News| F-18 Shoots Down Syrian Jet – First American Air-To-Air Combat In 18 Years
(Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Close Call.
Fighter jets, it’s better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them. But now we are certainly happy that we have them after an F/A-18 destroyed a hostile Su-22 becoming the first US aircraft to take down a manned fighter jet in 18 years.
US-backed forces came under attack from a Syrian fighter jet, prompting a response from American fighters. The American forces in the area gave fair warning not to provoke the situation further but their cries fell on deaf ears as the Syrian Su-22 continued its attack.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet was deployed from USS George H. W. Bush stationed in the Mediterranean. The F/A-18 made short work of the Su-22, this marks the first time since 1999 when a United States fighter jet has downed another fighter jet in aerial combat.
Not everyone is thrilled about the F/A-18’s victory, Russia called it a violation and says that they will treat any American planes west of the Euphrates River as targets. The situation was remedied but it is resulting in higher tensions with the Russian Government over Syria. Former Green Beret Commander Michael Waltz provides commentary about the dogfight in this clip.
