Hellfire R-9X 'Ninja' rocket iron attack shown in a newly published film material

The low collateral damage variant of the Hellfire rocket with pop-out blades instead of an explosive explosive head was first documented in 2019, but remained difficult to grasp.

Video material, which was published by the US Central Command (Centom) on March 1, 2025, documented an air raid on Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay in northern Syria on February 23 in Northern Syria. While no comment was made to the type of ammunition used in the strike, the damage caused by the vehicle mentioned, as well as the lack of an explosion analogously to previous air strikes, which was intended for the use of the Hellfire R-9X.

Centcom forces kill the high-ranking military leader of the Al Qaeda subsidiary Hurras al-Din (Had) in Syria

On February 23, the forces of the US Central Command (Centcom) led a precision attack in Northwest Syria and aimed and killed Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the high -ranking military leader of … pic.twitter.com/trhdvgdgne

– US Central Command (@Centcom) March 1, 2025

This is further confirmed by images and reports from the sources on site, which even show fragments of the rockets, which were reportedly used in the strike. The model number AGM-114R-9X is clearly printed on the rubble. The damage to the vehicle also matched the weapon and showed a striking “star” formation pattern that was left by the “blades”. An MQ-9 Reaper probably performed the air raid.

#Syria: Fragments of the rockets that we used today to use a former Horas al-Din member near Killi (N. #Idlib).
These Hellfire rockets (R9X) use blades instead of explosives.
Impact point in the vehicle also mapped. pic.twitter.com/i1n0bexede

– Qalaat al Mudiq (@Qalaatalmudiq) February 23, 2025

The AGM-114R-9X hell fire was developed as an option for use in situations in which an air raid with extremely low collateral damage was required. There are other deep collateral variants of the hell fire, which often contain a smaller explosive load in the explosive head, but the R-9X variant does not use an explosive explosive head in favor of a series of metal 'blades that are to be used from the rocket body. In combination with the speed of the rocket, this enables a devastating kinetic effect on one goal, so that a single person or a vehicle can target a significantly lower risk of fatal or serious injuries near spectators.

Non-explosive rockets or bombs are usually used for training purposes, although concrete is used by concrete bombs from several nations for their reduced risk of collateral damage. The USA also use a low-collateral variant of the bomb of Mark 82 500 LB with a carbon fiber body to reduce the fragmentation effect.

The Hellfire R-9X is said to have been introduced to the US military service in 2017, but was reported for the first time in two years in 2019. An air raid from 2022, which aimed at the then head of al-Qaida, further steered the rocket in the mainstream media.

A secret rocket with blades is used by the USA to kill high -quality destinations.

In our latest from @N_waters89 with @Newsy We explain how to identify the consequences of a R9X hell fire broke.

– Bellingcat (@bellingcat) August 26, 2021

Official comments on the weapon are almost not available, with most of the information about unofficial and unnamed sources in the media. A spokesman for the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has confirmed Reuters that the weapon is kept in its inventory.

No sales of the R-9X were confirmed overseas, although they would be easy to engage among the generic hell fire sales in order to close allies such as the United Kingdom with which the USA cooperates closely together for reaper operations. Although some reports pointed out a potential use by Israel in Gaza in 2023, this was later derived as a lighting shell. It can probably be assumed that the rocket could theoretically be released from any platform that the Hellfire rocket in general uses.