LE MISSILE " GINSU / NINJA " AGM-114R9X (Source : Wikipedia )

The Hellfire R9X is a Hellfire variant with a kinetic warhead with pop-out blades instead of explosives, used against specific human targets. Its lethality is due to 45 kg (100 lb) of dense material with six blades flying at high speed, to crush and cut the targeted person[43]— the R9X has also been referred to as the 'Ninja Missile'[44] and 'Flying Ginsu'.[43] It is intended to reduce collateral damage when targeting specific people.[45] Deployed in secret in 2017, its existence has been public since 2019. This variant was used in the killings of Jamal Ahmad Mohammad Al Badawi, accused mastermind of the 2000 USS Cole bombing, and Abu Khayr al-Masri, a member of Al-Qaeda's leadership.[46][47] The weapon has also been used in Syria,[48] and in Afghanistan against a Taliban commander.[49][50] It was used twice in 2020 against senior al-Qaeda leaders in Syria; in September 2020 US officials estimated that it had been used in combat around six times.[51][52][53][54][55] Additionally, the variant was used in the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri,[7] the then leader of Al-Qaeda, who helped orchestrate the 9/11 attacks. It was reported that the missile hit him on a balcony, leaving minimal collateral damage. [56]