During his speech on January 16, 2025, at the annual Surface Navy Association Symposium, Admiral James Kilby confirmed that a U.S. Navy (USN) MH-60R Seahawk helicopter had shot down a Houthi drone for the first time in the Red Sea. This action was part of the U.S. Navy’s deployment in the region following the outbreak of war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group. U.S. naval authorities later confirmed that the incident took place in mid-December and involved a helicopter deployed from the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.
At the time of the announcement, U.S. officials did not clarify the type of drone shot down by the helicopter but did state that a “non-conventional system” was used. Based on these statements, U.S. defense analysts have speculated on two potential systems used: the AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles or the AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS).
Regarding the Hellfire, this system has been used by U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters in live-fire exercises to enhance their anti-drone combat capabilities. These exercises were conducted alongside the Israel Defense Forces and have also been deployed in combat operations. However, it has been noted that Apache helicopters are equipped with their own AN/APG-78 Longbow radar systems for guiding the missiles, a capability not present on the MH-60 Seahawk involved in the recent incident. Therefore, it is suggested that the missile might have been guided by some form of laser targeting system.
As for the AGR-20 system, it is worth mentioning that this is a modified variant of the Hydra 70 rocket, featuring a new laser guidance system among its capabilities. If this system was used, it would mark a significant milestone for the U.S. Navy, as it would have successfully tested a system in a real mission that could expand its future arsenal.
At this point, it is useful to recall some of the known features of the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk platform, which first flew for the service in 2001 and was designed as a successor to the SH-60B models previously in use. Primarily developed for anti-submarine warfare, the helicopter is capable of carrying GAU-21/A .50 caliber machine guns or M240 7.62mm machine guns, along with up to eight Hellfire missiles typically used to neutralize small enemy vessels. Additionally, it features an AQS-13F dipping sonar, a six-tube sonobuoy launcher for locating submarines, and Mk 46, Mk 50, or Mk 54 torpedoes for attacking such targets. Current operators of the MH-60R include the armed forces of Australia, India, Denmark, South Korea, Qatar, and Spain.
Finally, it is important to highlight that while this was the first instance of a U.S. MH-60 helicopter shooting down a Houthi drone in 15 months of deployment, it is not the first time Western helicopters have intercepted drones in the Red Sea as part of these operations. One notable case involved a successful attack carried out by a French Panther AS565 helicopter deployed from the frigate Alsace in March of last year. In that instance, the weapon used was confirmed to be a 7.62mm machine gun.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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