According to information published by the U.S. media outlet 'Navy Times,' U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, have used AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missiles and Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGMs) for the first time in combat against the Houthis, an Iranian-backed group in Yemen.
A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Pukin Dogs of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143 was captured catching an arresting wire aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
In recent combat operations, the U.S. Navy, along with the U.K., has conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. These operations involved F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, among other U.S. and allied military assets. The targets included munitions depots, missile launch systems, production facilities, and air defense radar systems used by the Houthis.
In response, the Houthis claimed to have launched missile and drone attacks against the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, U.S. defense officials denied that the carrier was hit or damaged. The Houthis have increased their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, linking their actions to the conflict in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Hamas.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet is a twin-engine, carrier-capable multirole fighter aircraft developed by Boeing for the United States Navy. An evolution of the original F/A-18 Hornet, the Super Hornet features a larger airframe, greater fuel capacity, more powerful engines, and advanced avionics. It comes in two variants: the single-seat F/A-18E and the tandem-seat F/A-18F. The aircraft can perform a variety of missions, including air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression, and precision strikes, day or night.
First introduced in the late 1990s, the F/A-18 Super Hornet has become a critical component of the U.S. Navy's air wing, capable of achieving a top speed of Mach 1.6 and a combat range of over 1,200 nautical miles. It is equipped with advanced radar, targeting systems, and electronic warfare capabilities, making it a versatile and formidable platform in modern naval warfare. The aircraft's flexibility and reliability have ensured its continued service, with ongoing upgrades to maintain its technological edge.
The AIM-9X is the latest variant of the AIM-9 Sidewinder, a highly advanced short-range air-to-air missile developed by Raytheon for the United States and allied nations. This fifth-generation missile offers significant improvements over its predecessors, including an advanced infrared homing seeker with a high off-boresight capability, allowing pilots to lock onto and engage targets at wider angles and greater distances. It also features thrust vectoring control for enhanced maneuverability, enabling effective engagement of agile and fast-moving enemy aircraft.
The AIM-9X includes sophisticated technologies such as an internal cooling system, a reduced-smoke rocket motor to decrease visual detection, and improved counter-countermeasures to resist jamming. It can be used in surface attack missions when integrated with various launch platforms and is compatible with modern fighter aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and F/A-18 Super Hornet, making it a crucial component in maintaining air superiority.
The Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is an advanced air-to-surface missile designed to suppress and destroy enemy air defenses. Developed by Northrop Grumman, it is an upgrade to the older AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile). The AARGM features enhanced capabilities, including a multi-sensor system with millimeter-wave radar, GPS/INS guidance, and a digital anti-radiation homing (ARH) receiver. These features allow the AARGM to detect, track, and engage radar-emitting targets with high precision, even if the enemy attempts to shut down their radar systems to avoid detection.
Capable of engaging both stationary and moving targets, the AARGM can be used in various mission profiles, including the destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD) and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). Its advanced targeting system enables real-time targeting updates, ensuring greater accuracy and effectiveness. The AARGM is compatible with several aircraft platforms, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, F-35 Lightning II, and Tornado ECR, making it a versatile and valuable asset in modern electronic warfare and air combat operations.
The U.S. Navy's use of these sophisticated missiles underscores its escalating efforts to neutralize the Houthi threat, particularly their radar and air defense systems, which pose significant risks to regional security and international shipping lanes. This deployment of advanced weaponry highlights the U.S. Navy's commitment to maintaining air superiority and ensuring the safety of its operations in hostile environments. This strategic action aims not only to degrade the operational capabilities of the Houthis but also to send a strong message regarding the U.S. military's readiness to employ advanced technology in defense of its interests and those of its allies in the region.