Ukrainian Air Force Confirms Use of Ground Vehicles Armed with Hellfire Missiles

Ukrainian Air Force Command has confirmed that soldiers are operating ground vehicles equipped with laser-guided American Hellfire missiles. Yurii Ihnat, head of the Air Force Command communications department, disclosed the deployment in a podcast interview. He stated that the military uses these specific platforms to counter Russian aerial threats in designated operational zones.

Ihnat described the air defense network as a mix of different systems. He noted that the forces utilize FrankenSAM systems alongside the new vehicle-mounted Hellfire units. The goal is to match the right weapon to the specific threat environment. Ihnat did not provide details on the exact number of vehicles in service or the specific missile variants used.

The placement of these systems follows a specific tactical logic. Aviation units operate in areas where ground-based air defense is inactive. This separation prevents friendly fire incidents involving Ukrainian aircraft. Closer to cities or critical infrastructure, the military deploys teams with man-portable air defense systems and other ground-based assets.

Electronic warfare plays a central role in this defense strategy. Ihnat explained that Ukrainian equipment jams many Russian drones and missiles. He observed that not all Russian systems are equally protected or equipped with appropriate antennas. In rare instances, Ukrainian forces have also used assault rifles to bring down low-flying drones.

The Hellfire missile is an American guided weapon system. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer, states that the Hellfire II variant uses semi-active laser homing. The system can be launched from helicopters, aircraft, ground vehicles, and ships. In January 2026, Ukrainian forces reported shooting down 21 Russian Shahed drones using mobile surface-to-air missile systems equipped with Longbow Hellfire missiles.