US approves Hellfire missiles for Denmark

Seen being carried by US Navy MH-60R helicopters, the Hellfire has been approved for sale to Denmark for likely use aboard the same platform. (US Navy)

The US government has approved the sale to Denmark of Lockheed Martin AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles for an estimated USD45 million.

Announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 8 January, the US Department of State approval covers up to 100 missiles, as well as related equipment, training, and support.

“The proposed sale will improve Denmark's capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring aviation forces' interoperability with United States and other allied forces as well as their ability to contribute to missions of mutual interest by delivering follow-on support and sustainment,” the DSCA said. “By operating the AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, Denmark contributes to global readiness and enhances the capability for the US forces operating globally alongside them.”

While the notification does not disclose the host platform for the Hellfire missiles, they would likely be carried aboard either the Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopter or the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aerial vehicle, both of which are on order with the country's armed forces.

The AGM-114R is the latest variant of the Hellfire family that is available for export. It allows the pilot to select the level of the missile's lethality before launching, enabling the kinetic effect to be tailored to minimise the risk of collateral damage. An additional advantage of the ‘Romeo'-variant Hellfire is that, once launched, it can fly to an area before acquiring a target, enabling a high-altitude platform to strike targets behind it without the need for additional manoeuvring.