US approves $203 Million sale of Hellfire missiles to France.

On July 7, 2023, the US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of France. The approved sale includes the procurement of 1,515 AGM-114R2 Hellfire Missiles, accompanied by technical assistance, non-standard books, publications, integration support, and other logistical and program-related elements. The estimated cost of the entire package is $203 million.
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An AH-1Z Viper fires an AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missile during a live fire drill in 2017 (Picture source US DoD)

This marks the third occasion on which France has purchased Hellfire missiles. In 2015, the first sale included 200 AGM-114K1A Hellfire Missiles, along with conversion kits, blast fragmentation sleeves, installation kits, containers, and transportation. The munition and explosive (MDE) costs were estimated to be $25 million, while the total expected expense reached $30 million.

In 2016, the second sale included 112 AGM-114K1A Hellfire Missiles, 102 AGM-114N1A Hellfire Missiles, and 50 ATM-114Q1A Hellfire Training Missiles. Additionally, non-munition and explosive (MDE) items requested comprised four Hellfire Missile Mock-Up Sectional Models, four Hellfire II AGM-114N Warhead Mock-Ups, thirty Hellfire M36-E4 Training Missiles, and sixty Hellfire M60 Dummy Missiles. The total implemented value of this second sale reached $42 million, including all associated equipment, comprehensive training, and support services.

The present sale, which is the largest of its kind for Hellfire missiles, was planned in accordance with the 2023 budget law to fulfill the needs of the French Air and Space Army [AAE]. General Stéphane Mille, the Chief of Staff, mentioned this during a parliamentary hearing, stating that the objective is to replenish ammunition stocks. Additionally, it can be regarded as a component of worldwide initiatives to reinforce military capabilities.

France currently utilizes Hellfire missiles for the Tigre helicopters of the Army Light Aviation [ALAT] and the Medium Altitude Long Endurance [MALE] MQ-9 Reaper block 5 drones of the AAE. However, France aims to use its own Akeron LP missile [or "high-frame missile" - MHT] from MBDA in the future, as part of developing the Tigre attack helicopter's Mk3 standard.

The AGM-114 Hellfire II is an air-to-ground missile designed for anti-armor missions. It uses laser guidance for precision strikes and is widely employed in attack helicopter operations. The AGM-114R "Romeo" Hellfire II, introduced in 2015, features a versatile K-charge warhead, improved trajectories, and a semi-active laser homing guidance system. It maintains compatibility with existing Hellfire II platforms. Weighing about 45 kilograms, measuring 163 centimeters in length and 17.8 centimeters in diameter, it has a range of 11 kilometers.

The multipurpose warhead offers selectable detonation modes for different targets, generating a high-speed, small-diameter jet or a slower, larger penetrator. It produces multiple adaptable fragments, and optional composite liners optimize performance. The Hellfire II missile provides aimpoint control and supports lock-on-before-launch or lock-on-after-launch modes. It can be deployed from helicopters like the AH-64, AH-1Z, or MH-60, as well as aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Eurocopter Tiger, Agusta, Predator, and Reaper.

There is ongoing consideration for a potential successor to the Hellfire missile, as well as the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile, called the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM). Due to budget constraints, the development of JAGM has been divided into increments. The first increment primarily focuses on enhancing the Hellfire-R by incorporating a millimeter-wave radar, which would enable it to have a dual-mode seeker capable of tracking moving targets even in adverse weather conditions. 

Defense News July 2023