US approves $45 Million Hellfire missile sale for Denmark's MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

The United States has approved a possible $45 million Foreign Military Sale to Denmark for AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, likely for MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

On January 8, 2026, the United States approved a possible $45 million Foreign Military Sale to Denmark for AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and related equipment, likely for use on MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters. The proposed sale includes missiles, launchers, training assets, and logistical support. No additional U.S. personnel are required for implementation, as the package maintains interoperability with U.S. and allied forces, with no impact on U.S. defense readiness.
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Within Denmark’s current force structure, the aircraft most likely to use the AGM-114R is the MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopter operated by the Royal Danish Air Force. (Picture source: US Navy)

This possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Denmark, valued at $45 million, includes up to 100 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, three AGM-114R captive air test missiles, six Hellfire Longbow M299 launchers, two MHU-191/M trailers, and three BRU-14 ejector racks. The package also includes containers, training aids, weapon software, training, support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, transportation, and U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services, together with other elements of logistical and program support. The sale is intended to strengthen Denmark’s aviation strike capabilities while maintaining interoperability with allied forces, and it is stated that Denmark can absorb the equipment and services without difficulty, with no requirement for additional U.S. personnel in-country and no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness.

Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the AGM-114 Hellfire missile was first developed in the 1970s to meet a U.S. Army requirement for a helicopter-launched weapon capable of accurately striking adversary armored vehicles from a safe distance. When it entered service in the 1980s, the Hellfire missile was initially optimized for anti-armor roles using semi-active guidance to hit targets with high precision. Over the following decades, the missile evolved as warfare requirements changed, expanding from a tank-focused missile into a broader precision strike system. The introduction of the Hellfire II in the 1990s brought more robust electronics, improved guidance, and multiple warhead options, allowing the missile to be used against a wider variety of targets in both land and maritime environments.

The AGM-114R, known as the Romeo variant, was created to simplify this growing family of missiles by replacing several earlier Hellfire II variants with a single, multi-purpose missile. Instead of selecting different warhead types depending on the target, crews can use the AGM-114R's multi-function warhead against armored vehicles, air defense systems, patrol boats, or targets located in buildings, open terrain, light vehicles, or caves. The missile can also lock onto a laser-designated target before launch or after launch, giving operators the necessary flexibility in how they attack while reducing exposure to enemy fire. Therefore, the AGM-114R Hellfire lowers the logistical complexity associated with the Hellfire II, while keeping the missile adaptable to rapidly shift between maritime and land strike roles during the same mission.

In terms of performance, the AGM-114R can engage targets at distances of up to 8.0 km using a high-trajectory lock-on after launch profile, or 7.1 km using a lower or direct flight path, based on a launch altitude of 914 m. The missile weighs 49.4 kg, measures 163 cm in length, and has a diameter of 17.8 cm, keeping it within the standard Hellfire missile launcher. It can be used from helicopters, boats, vehicles, fixed-wing aircraft, and tripod launchers, depending on the mission's requirements. Additional features include an inertial measurement unit that widens the possible firing angles, flight path shaping to suit different targets and weather conditions, improved tracking through dust, smoke, water vapor, or sea spray, as well as the ability to regain a target if laser guidance is briefly lost.

Over time, the Hellfire missile became a standard air-to-surface weapon for U.S. and allied forces using attack helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache, AH-1Z Viper, AH-6, MH-6 Little Bird, and Tiger, as well as naval helicopters including the MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk, which typically employ the missile via the M299 launcher in two- or four-rail configurations. The missile has also been used on some fixed-wing aircraft such as the AC-208 Combat Caravan, Beechcraft Super King Air, KC-130J Harvest Hawk, and Iomax Archangel, where it is used for precision strike missions. In the unmanned category, Hellfire variants are widely employed by U.S. drones like the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, and MQ-9 Reaper, for accurate engagement of time-sensitive targets supported by persistent surveillance. Surface and coastal applications have included launches from platforms such as Combat Boat 90, littoral combat ships, and vehicle-mounted launchers fitted with suitable launch systems.

Within Denmark’s current force structure, the aircraft most likely to use the AGM-114R is the MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopter operated by the Royal Danish Air Force. Denmark ordered nine MH-60R helicopters through a Foreign Military Sales agreement signed in December 2012, valued at about $686 million, with deliveries completed by 2018. The Seahawk fleet is assigned to the 723 Squadron at Karup Air Base and regularly operates from Danish frigates, support ships, and shore bases. Their missions include maritime patrol, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and transport tasks across the North Atlantic and Arctic, including areas around Greenland and the Faroe Islands, making them the most likely natural carrier for Hellfire integration.

The MH-60R Seahawk itself is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines and is equipped with a mission system combining the AN/APS-153 multi-mode radar, AN/AQS-22 dipping sonar, AAS-44C(V) electro-optical and infrared sensors, and AN/ALQ-210 electronic support measures. Defensive equipment also includes missile warning and decoy systems to improve survivability. The helicopter has a maximum speed of 333 km/h, a cruise speed of 311 km/h, a service ceiling of 3,960 m, a surface warfare mission endurance of 3.3 hours, and a range of 454 km. Its weapons load can include up to four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Mark 54 lightweight torpedoes, matching Denmark’s maritime security and defense missions.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.