Hellfire Sys Summary

The Hellfire Sys Summary line item in the Army's FY 2026 Missile Procurement budget details the goals and objectives associated with the procurement and sustainment of the HELLFIRE II and HELLFIRE Longbow missile systems. These precision-guided air-to-ground missiles are designed to provide rotary and fixed-wing platforms, including unmanned aerial systems (UAS), with a highly effective capability against high-value targets such as heavy armor and a range of traditional and non-traditional threats.

The program supports both the Army and Joint Services, as well as partner nations and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, by ensuring continued access to these critical munitions for attack helicopters and UAS platforms.

The primary objective of the HELLFIRE II missile program is to maintain a reliable and versatile precision-strike capability for Army Aviation. HELLFIRE II missiles utilize a semi-active laser guidance system, making them the main armament for platforms such as the AH-64 Apache helicopter, Army UAS, and Special Operations Aviation Regiment aircraft. Recent improvements to the HELLFIRE II include the integration of a multi-purpose warhead, which streamlines logistics and mission planning by reducing the number of missile variants required. A variable electronic fuze has also been added, allowing operators to select height-of-burst settings for enhanced operational flexibility.

The HELLFIRE Longbow variant, although no longer in production, previously contributed to the Army's capability by offering a millimeter wave (MMW) radar guidance system. This technology enabled fire-and-forget and beyond line-of-sight targeting, which is particularly valuable in adverse weather and obscured battlefield conditions. The Longbow variant shares the same motor and control section as the HELLFIRE II, facilitating commonality and ease of maintenance across missile types. While procurement of the Longbow has ceased, its legacy capability continues to support operational requirements where applicable.

For FY 2026, the Hellfire Sys Summary line item reflects the Army's strategic shift in accordance with the Army Aviation Lethality Strategy, resulting in the discontinuation of new HELLFIRE missile procurement. This transition aligns with broader modernization efforts and the introduction of next-generation missile systems intended to further enhance Army Aviation's lethality and survivability. The budget justification notes that there is no FY 2026 funding requested for this line item, indicating that existing inventory and prior procurements are expected to meet current operational needs.

Despite the cessation of new procurement, the Hellfire missile systems remain essential for homeland defense missions, domestic emergency responses, and military support to civil authorities, as mandated by Section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. The program ensures that both active and reserve components of the Armed Forces retain the capability to respond to a wide array of contingencies, leveraging the proven performance and reliability of the HELLFIRE family of missiles.