Ukraine Fields Vehicles Armed With Laser-Guided Hellfire Missiles for Air Defence
An Air Force Command spokesperson says Ukrainian forces use Hellfire-armed vehicles alongside other systems to counter Russian aerial threats.
By News Media House Staff ·
Ukrainian troops are using vehicles fitted with laser-guided Hellfire missiles as part of their air defence, according to an Air Force Command official.
Yurii Ihnat, head of the command's Communications Department, made the disclosure on the RBC-Ukraine podcast TSE BAZA. He said Ukraine's defence forces choose different means of countering Russian aerial assets depending on the area where they operate. "We have different systems, the FrankenSAM systems and there are vehicles with laser-guided Hellfire missiles," he said.
Ihnat did not identify the specific vehicles involved. He also gave no figures on how many Ukraine has, and he did not say which missile modifications are in use.
He explained that aircraft work in zones where ground-based air defence is not active. The arrangement is meant to prevent friendly air defence systems from accidentally engaging Ukrainian planes. Nearer to cities or particular infrastructure objects, crews with man-portable air defence systems, known as MANPADS, and other ground-based assets are deployed.
Electronic warfare is another layer of the defence. According to Ihnat, it jams many Russian assets because not all of them are equally well protected or fitted with suitable antennas.
He also described cases in which Ukrainian forces downed drones with assault rifles, though he said this happens only rarely. His broader point was that each asset is placed where it is most effective.
The AGM-114 Hellfire is a family of American guided missiles built to hit a wide range of targets, including armoured vehicles, air defence systems and patrol boats. Manufacturer Lockheed Martin says its Hellfire II missiles use semi-active laser homing and can be fired from helicopters, aircraft, ground vehicles and vessels.
Ukrainska Pravda has previously reported that Ukrainian forces were using American Tempest mobile surface-to-air missile systems, each equipped with two AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles. In January 2026, soldiers reported shooting down 21 Russian Shahed drones with those systems.
Originally published by News Media House · Source: Ukrainska Pravda
