The low collateral damage variant of the Hellfire missile, with pop-out blades instead of an explosive warhead, was first documented in 2019, but has remained elusive.
Video footage released by U.S. Central Command (CENTOM) on Mar. 1, 2025 documented an airstrike in Northern Syria on Feb. 23 targeting Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, a senior leader in the Al-Qaeda affiliated group Hurras al-Din. While no comment was made on the type of munition used in the strike, the damage caused to the vehicle targeted as well as the lack of an explosion is analogous with previous airstrikes thought or known to have involved the use of the Hellfire R-9X.
CENTCOM Forces Kill the Senior Military Leader of Al-Qaeda Affiliate Hurras al-Din (HaD) in Syria
On Feb. 23, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria, targeting and killing Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of… pic.twitter.com/trhDvgdgne
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2025
This is further corroborated by images and reports from on-the-ground sources, which even show fragments of the missile that was reportedly used in the strike. The model number AGM-114R-9X can be seen clearly printed on the wreckage. Damage to the vehicle was also consistent with the weapon, showing a distinctive ‘star’ shaped pattern left by the ‘blades’. Presumably, an MQ-9 Reaper carried out the airstrike.
#Syria: fragments of the missiles used today by US to kill a former Horas Al-Din member near Killi (N. #Idlib).
Those Hellfire missiles (R9X) use blades instead of explosives.
Impact point in the vehicle also pictured. pic.twitter.com/i1N0BExedE
— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) February 23, 2025
The AGM-114R-9X Hellfire was developed as an option for use in situations requiring an airstrike with extremely low collateral damage. Other low-collateral variants of the Hellfire do exist, often featuring a smaller explosive charge in the warhead, but the R-9X variant forgoes an explosive warhead altogether in favor of a series of metal ‘blades’ which are said to deploy from the missile body before impact. This, in combination with the missile’s speed, provides a devastating kinetic effect on a target, allowing an individual person or vehicle to be targeted with a significantly lower risk of fatally or seriously injuring nearby bystanders.
Non-explosive missiles or bombs are usually used for training purposes, although inert bombs filled with concrete have been utilized by several nations for their reduced risk of collateral damage. The U.S. also employs a low-collateral variant of the Mark 82 500 lb bomb with a carbon fiber body to lessen the fragmentation effect.
The Hellfire R-9X is said to have been introduced to U.S. military service in 2017, but first started to be reported on two years later in 2019. A 2022 airstrike targeting the then leader of al-Qaeda gave the missile further attention in the mainstream media.
A secretive missile laden with blades is being used by the US to kill high-value targets.
In our latest from @N_waters89 with @newsy we explain how to identify the aftermath of an R9X Hellfire strike. https://t.co/yEIOwyLiHu
— Bellingcat (@bellingcat) August 26, 2021
Official comments regarding the weapon are almost non-existent, with most information coming through to media outlets via unofficial and unnamed sources. A spokesperson for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) did confirm to Reuters that the weapon is held in their inventory.
No overseas sales of the R-9X have been confirmed, though they would be easy to disguise among generic Hellfire sales to close allies like the United Kingdom, with whom the U.S. closely cooperates with for Reaper operations. Though some reports in 2023 suggested a potential use by Israel in Gaza, this was later deduced to be an illumination shell. It can likely be assumed that the missile could, in theory, be fired by any platform that utilizes the Hellfire missile in general.
