“Hellfire” on Board: A New U.S. Tactic to Counter Drones

18th February 2025

2 minutes read

"Hellfire" on Board: A New U.S. Tactic to Counter Drones

In an effort to find a new use for its heavily criticized combat ships, the U.S. Navy has assigned them a new mission.

By arming these 3,000-ton ships with a version of the Hellfire anti-tank missile capable of intercepting aerial targets, the U.S. Navy has transformed some of its $500 million littoral combat ships into drone-hunting weapons.

According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, the U.S. warship USS Indianapolis, one of ten Freedom-class monohull ships, was the first to be equipped with Hellfire missiles designed to counter drones. The vessel was recently deployed to the Middle East, where U.S. warships and their allies have been working to deter and combat Houthi missiles and drones.

The report states that Freedom-class ships are primarily configured for surface warfare—engaging small boats at close range—and typically sail with 24 vertical launchers for Hellfire missiles, each weighing 100 pounds and having a range of 11 miles (about 18 km).

These ships, along with the 15 Independence-class trimaran ships, are also equipped with 57mm multi-purpose guns and Rolling Airframe infrared-guided missiles for short-range air defense.

However, standard Hellfire missiles are optimized for hitting surface targets, such as boats. Modifications were needed to adapt them for aerial defense. The newly adjusted missiles arrived shortly before the USS Indianapolis departed from the Middle East in November, concluding a nine-month mission.

The vessel did not actually fire any Hellfire missiles at Houthi drones, but that was not the primary objective. Instead, the goal was to demonstrate the ship’s capability to take down enemy drones.

Rear Admiral Kevin Smith, head of the Navy’s drone and light combat aircraft division, stated: “This rapid integration of air defense capabilities enhances our ability to project power and maintain freedom of maneuver in contested environments.”

Now, additional Freedom-class ships are being equipped with Hellfire missiles capable of destroying drones. According to The Telegraph, this is part of a broader trend of arming previously lightly armed littoral combat ships to significantly enhance their combat effectiveness.

The Navy is also adding mine-clearing equipment to Independence-class ships. Both classes of LCS ships can also sail with quadruple launchers for anti-ship missiles and a limited number of launchers for long-range land-attack missiles mounted on their helicopter decks.

Additional Missions

After years of controversy over the cost and limited performance of littoral combat ships, these vessels can now conduct mine-clearing operations, engage small boats, strike ground targets, and, most recently, launch Hellfire missiles against enemy drones.

However, the absence of large vertical launch systems, Aegis combat systems, and long-range radars—found on larger U.S. Navy destroyers and cruisers—prevents these ships from launching or guiding heavy air defense missiles.

Captain Matthew Lehman, director of the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship mission module program, commented on the USS Indianapolis crew: “We wanted to ensure they had as much capability as possible.”

But beyond a few extra weapons, Hellfire missiles, specialized for drone destruction, may be one of the few additional capabilities that Freedom-class littoral combat ships can handle.

“It’s far better than nothing for a fleet struggling to keep up with its closest competitor, the Chinese Navy,” he added.