On December 22 in the Red Sea, the US missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet.

According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), a missile fired from the ship hit the aircraft, which was operating from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. The incident occurred at around 3 a.m. local time, during an operation conducted as part of the Prosperity Guardian mission, which aims to protect shipping lanes in the region.[1]

The downed aircraft belonged to the “Red Rippers” squadron of the 11th Strike Fighter Squadron, stationed at Oceana Air Force Base, Virginia. Upon impact, the fighter fell into the Red Sea. CENTCOM reported that both crew members managed to catapult themselves out and were safely evacuated by rescue forces. One of the pilots was injured.[2]

The USS Gettysburg is a missile cruiser equipped with 122 launching stations housed in Mk 41 vertical launchers, which allow it to fire missiles, including anti-aircraft, anti-ship and cruise missiles. A major upgrade of the vessel’s onboard systems was completed in 2023, increasing its operational capabilities. The ship began its current operational cruise in September 2024.[3]

The day before the incident, U.S. forces carried out precision air strikes against targets belonging to the Huti rebels in western Yemen, who have controlled much of the country since 2014. The attacks targeted missile depots and a drone command and control center that enabled attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets participated in the operations.[4]

The Huti rebels, backed by Iran, responded by launching drones toward areas of presence of US ships and vessels. Preliminary findings indicate that the tense situation and intense activity in the region may have contributed to the error, which resulted in the US cruiser mistakenly shooting down its own fighter jet. As can be assumed, the crew of the USS Gettysburg had limited time to identify the aerial target, and the detected object was mistakenly considered hostile.[5]

The “own-alien” identification system (IFF, Identification Friend or Foe), which is a military technology that allows the identification of the affiliation of objects such as aircraft or naval units, may have played a role in the incident. It is based on the “query-response” principle: the querying device (interrogator) sends a signal at 1030 MHz, and the transponder on the queried object automatically generates a response at 1090 MHz. Lack of response does not always mean hostility – it can be the result of transponder damage, its deactivation as part of the mission, or faulty operation. Full identification, however, requires additional methods, such as flight plan analysis or visual reconnaissance.[6]

According to media reports, another incident narrowly missed occurring on the same day, when one US destroyer was said to have nearly hit a second F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft.[7]

The aforementioned incident is part of a broader context of rising tensions in the region, where since October 2023, following the Hamas attack on Israel, the Huthis have stepped up their actions in a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinians. The shelling of merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is not only lengthening shipping times, but also significantly increasing their costs, affecting global supply chains. Currently, the circumstances of the incident involving the USS Gettysburg are under detailed investigation by the US Navy.[8]

Tekst powstał w ramach realizacji zadania publicznego zleconego w ramach Rządowego Programu Rozwoju Organizacji Obywatelskich na lata 2018–2030 r. „Bezpieczna Polska jutra – rozwój działań misyjnych Alioth Foundation”.

Bibliography:

[1] Altair.com.pl „US Navy zestrzeliła własny F/A-18F” [online].

[2] W. Kozioł, defence24.pl „Amerykanie zestrzelili swój samolot” [online].

[3] Ł. Pacholski, zbiam.pl „USS Gettysburg zestrzelił F/A-18F Super Hornet” [online].

[4] R. Kamiński, gospodarkamorska.pl „Groźna wpadka amerykańskiego krążownika. Zamiast drona Huti zestrzelił… myśliwiec US Navy” [online].

[5] Ibidem.

[6] M. Dura, defence24.pl „System IFF był i powinien być produkowany w Polsce” [online].

[7] R. Kamiński, gospodarkamorska.pl „Groźna wpadka amerykańskiego krążownika. Zamiast drona Huti zestrzelił… myśliwiec US Navy” [online].

[8] Rp.pl „Amerykanie zestrzelili własny myśliwiec. Incydent nad Morzem Czerwonym” [online].