Allegedly recorded in Syria, seen here is a still from footage showing the
remnants of the rumored R9X missile, otherwise known as the “sword bomb.”
The video first appeared on Twitter, posted by @TRintheworld. In it, the remains of one
of the sword blades can be seen. It was first tweeted on social media on June 17, 2020,
three days after the AGM-114R9X was used to strike an SUV in the Syrian Idlib Governorate.
The weapon supposedly has a pinpoint destructive radius,
as it carries no explosives in order to avoid civilian casualties. Instead,
sword blades fan out from the body before ripping through its target with pure kinetic force…
Rumored Development
The R9X is a one-of-a-kind missile in how it uses blades to cause damage. Rather than
a large warhead, the missile's precision is perfect for bombing confined urban spaces.
Some have signaled that the missile's existence shows how the U.S. has adapted
to fighting the War on Terror and attempting to mitigate civilian deaths. Others claim that
this is simply an unintended side effect of a technology meant for a specific application.
Either way, the missile relies on blades rather than explosives.
The first confirmed deployment of the weapon was in 2017. Little information was known at the time
until detailed reports surfaced in 2019, confirming its existence and equipment:
six sword blades that can rip through cars and even concrete.
The mysterious R9X has been used for years, according to the same report.
Claims that it was created and developed as far back as 2011 under the Obama administration
permeate. Still, no specifics were known until former American officials disclosed
limited information on the R9X, also known as the Flying Ginsu or Ninja Bomb.
The non-explosive missile is generally understood to be an iteration of the widely used Hellfire
missile. Still, specific differences from the original rocket remain somewhat unclear.
Reportedly, the R9X deploys six blades in a halo movement seconds before impact.
Its design intended to expel high-value targets
while reducing the risk of killing bystanders or nearby objects.
The missile is capable of piercing armor and even building walls.
Furthermore, a sleeve on the main charge can break apart into shrapnel to tear apart targets.
Rumored Strikes
The photos and videos posted to Twitter identified the strike as Syria's Idlib governorate.
It is believed that at least three of these missiles were used against targets associated
with Al-Qaeda. Two high-profile members of the group were allegedly targets. However,
this information lacked sufficient supporting evidence to confirm.
What is known is that an SUV was entirely wrecked by the bladed missile. The missile was identified
both by its nomenclature and damage. Furthermore, experts have determined that three, perhaps even
four rockets struck the SUV. The footage reveals components seemingly from different missiles.
One of the missiles remained intact, with three blades still attached to its central hub.
Another visible element is the red spheres used on the devices. This component was also present
in previous AGM-114 variants, which have it toward the rear of the missile. The Red
spheres are pneumatic accumulators used to store significant amounts of energy in compact spaces.
They are featured in other more commonly seen missiles as well.
Another notable instance occurred in January 2019,
when Jamel Ahmed Mohammed Ali al-Badawi was hunted. The military sought him out
after he spent almost twenty years on the FBI's most-wanted list.
Al-Badawi attacked the USS Cole destroyer in October 2000. He fired a guided missile
as the vessel was docked at Aden port in Yemen for refueling. al-Badwadi transported
explosives via a small boat to shoot at the port side of the American ship. Consequently,
it ripped a 40 by 60 feet hole in its side with an estimated 400 to 700 pounds of explosives.
Although al-Badawi was arrested by Yemeni authorities in December that same year,
he managed to escape incarceration in 2003. The R9X missile was used to destroy his vehicle.
Official Reports
The footage published on Twitter was distributed and viewed without any official confirmation.
Yet, publicly available records indicate that the missile parts match surface-to-surface missile.
These missiles are closely related to another Hellfire missile variant designated AGM-114R9G.
The U.S. confirmed the existence of the variants R9B, R9G, R9E, and R9H, but not R9X.
Some speculate that the rumored AGM-114R9G was an earlier name this variant,
the missiles being one and the same. It is impossible to confirm or deny this theory.
It is known that these types of rockets are rarely used despite their effectiveness and
low civilian casualty risk. They are only selected for specific instances.
It is estimated that the missile is only used by the Joint Special Operations Command and the
Central Intelligence Agency. Perhaps its use is more expansive, but no evidence of this exists.
Notably, the U.S.-led coalition forces fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria has denied any involvement
with the strike. Rumors suppose that an entirely different group carried out this attack.
Furthermore, evidence in 2017 shows that the Air Force managed this variant beginning that year.
While the U.S. military has yet to confirm, they have noted other variants such as the AGM-114R9H.
This equally low-collateral Hellfire variant is rumored to not carry a warhead.
Despite the secrecy, the weapons increased use in Syria is undeniable. It has also been
used in Afghanistan. The Wall Street Journal revealed details about the R9X first when
other nations such as Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and Iraq used them against targets in 2019.
While the military keeps such things classified, the blades leave unmistakable evidence in ways too
particular to not be identified, especially considering the lack of a warhead. Still,
the media and weapons' aficionados hope that soon all will be revealed...