Freedom-class littoral combat patrol vessels of the US Navy have been given the ability to use Hellfire missiles against drones.

This is reported by The War Zone.

Last year, the US Navy conducted a test program that allowed Freedom-class ships to use AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire anti-tank missiles equipped with radar homing heads against drones.

The first ship with such capabilities was the USS Indianapolis. It received this modernization to combat drones during an operation in the Middle East in the fall of 2024.

“In the fall of 2024, the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship Mission Module Directorate program upgraded the software and hardware of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) to enhance the ship’s defense capabilities during deployment,” the Navy told the publication.

The main element of the SSMM is the launchers, which can be loaded with up to 24 AGM-114Ls at a time. The initial targeting of the missiles is provided by the ship’s radar. After that, the missiles are launched and the homing head on the missiles is aimed at the targets and destroy them autonomously.

“Recent events in the U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of responsibility underscore the importance of equipping our warships with modern C-UAS systems to prevent new threats. By leveraging the adaptability of proven technology … we were able to meet a critical need for the fleet,” said Navy Capt. Matthew Lehmann, LCS Mission Modules Program Office Manager, in a statement.

The first phase of testing of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) began in 2018. They became operational on Freedom-class ships in 2019. In the same year, tests also began on Independence-class littoral vessels.

The main goal of the SSMM was initially to provide patrol vessels with an additional capability to counter small boat attacks. The threat of which came, in particular, from the Houthis in Yemen, who pioneered the use of explosive-laden maritime drones.

And while the AGM-114L missile’s primary role is to destroy ground targets, thanks to its radar homing head, it can also effectively engage slow-moving air targets at low altitudes. Drones are a perfect fit for this description.

In particular, this missile has already been integrated into the new American short-range air defense system M-SHORAD.

These missiles have also been used to intercept drones during exercises by AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopters.