AGM-114 Hellfire: First Missile Launched By Drone

The AGM-114 Hellfire stands as an American air-to-surface missile originally designed for anti-armor applications. Its evolution later expanded to encompass precision drone strikes against diverse target types, particularly high-value targets. Initially known as the “Heliborne laser, fire-and-forget missile,“ the missile adopted the colloquial name “Hellfire“ as its official designation. Serving as the primary 100-pound (45 kg) class air-to-ground precision weapon for the United States and numerous other nations, the Hellfire missile has also been deployed on surface platforms, fulfilling roles in both surface-to-surface and surface-to-air scenarios. The first missile launched by a drone was likely the AGM-114 Hellfire. Originally developed for anti-armor use, the Hellfire missile evolved to become a preferred munition for drone strikes. Drones such as the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper have been equipped with the capability to launch Hellfire missiles, contributing to their effectiveness i