Here’s How Super Hornets Shot Down Houthi Drones

Weeks ago, the US Central Command tweeted that US assets including the USS LABOON and F/A-18 Super Hornets from Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group shot twelve one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Houthis. 

The Shootdown

The KAG 3 has four Super Hornet squadrons- one two-seat F/A-18F Squadron, the VFA-32 the Swordsman, and three single-seat F/A-18E Squadrons, the VFA-83 the Rampagers, the VFA-105 the Gunslingers, and the VFA-131 the Wildcats. 

However, neither the Central Command nor the US Navy commented on exactly which squadron was involved in the shootdown. 

The Super Hornet

The Super Hornet was set to replace both the Legacy Hornet the F/A-18A-C and the F-14 Tomcat. 

It was originally fitted with APG-73 radar but has been upgraded with the APG-79 airborne electronically scanned array radar that’s better at detecting smaller, slower targets and can do so in longer range which is ideal considering the Houthi threat. 

When it comes to air-to-air weapons, it’s equipped with sidewinder heat-seeking missiles AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile and a 20 mm nose cannon. 

Tracking the Target

Houthi Missiles and drones are tracked by anyone or all of the surface warship’s powerful spy radars and those tracks can be relayed automatically to carrier E2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft and the Super Hornets. 

A Powerful Statement

In response to this, the Houthis released a statement saying, “The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm their continued support and solidarity with the Palestinian people consistent with their religious, moral, and humanitarian duty.”

That attitude along with constant military support of the Houthis by the Iranian government suggests that we’ll be seeing more of these kinds of activities in the days and the weeks to come.