How the Bladed R9X Ninja Missile Works
The R9X Hellfire missile is a modified version of the AGM-114 Hellfire, a widely used air-to-ground missile that can be launched from various platforms, such as helicopters, drones, or fixed-wing aircraft. The Hellfire missile has several variants, each with different guidance systems, warheads, and ranges. The most common version is the AGM-114L, which uses a laser seeker to lock on to a designated target and a tandem shaped-charge warhead to penetrate armored vehicles. The AGM-114L has a length of 1.8 meters, a diameter of 0.18 meters, a weight of 45 kilograms, and a range of up to 8 kilometers.
However, the AGM-114L and other Hellfire variants have a drawback: they cause a large explosion that can harm civilians or damage infrastructure near the target. To minimize collateral damage, the US military developed a secret weapon: the AGM-114R9X, also known as the R9X Hellfire, the Ninja Missile, the Ninja Bomb, or the Flying Ginsu. The R9X Hellfire is a sword bomb or a sword missile, that has sword-like blades that pop out to chop down the target instead of exploding. It was first used in 2017 to kill Abu al-Khayr al-Masri, an Al-Qaeda deputy leader, in Syria. Since then, it has been used in several other covert operations against high-value targets in Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen.
The R9X Hellfire has a similar design and dimensions as the AGM-114L, but with two major differences: it has no explosive warhead and it has six blades that are deployed from the missile before impact. The R9X Hellfire works purely on kinetic energy to do its damage. It has a dense material, such as tungsten, in its core, which gives it a high mass and momentum. It also has a laser seeker that guides it to the target with high precision. As the missile approaches the target, the blades are extended from the missile body, forming a ring of sharp metal around the missile tip. The blades can also be retracted if the target is missed or aborted. The missile then strikes the target with a tremendous force, crushing and slicing the targeted person or vehicle. The effect is devastating, but localized, leaving little or no trace of an explosion.
The R9X Hellfire is launched from the same launchers and platforms as the other Hellfire variants. It can be fired from the M299 or M310 launcher, which can hold up to four missiles each. It can also be carried by the MQ-1 Predator, the MQ-9 Reaper, the AH-64 Apache, or the AC-130 gunship. The R9X Hellfire has a similar range and speed as the AGM-114L, but it is more expensive and rare. The US military has only confirmed 11 cases involving the weapon, and it is believed to be reserved for the most sensitive and critical missions.
The R9X Hellfire is an unusual and secretive weapon system, and not just because it uses six blades to destroy its target. It is a missile that is shrouded in secrecy, but announces its presence with an extremely distinctive signature. Though designed to reduce the fatal radius of a conventional munition, it has a profoundly lethal effect on anyone unfortunate enough to be directly hit by it.
