US Navy Pilot Makes History by Downing Houthi Attack Drone

In a groundbreaking mission, a US Navy fighter pilot has become the first American woman to achieve an air-to-air combat victory. The pilot, whose identity remains undisclosed, successfully downed an attack drone launched by the Houthis, according to a recent report by the New York Post.

The Historic Mission

The female pilot, a member of Strike Fighter Squadron 32 (VFA-32), was flying an F/A-18 Super Hornet off the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower when she engaged and destroyed the Houthi drone. This achievement marks a significant milestone in US military history.

“During one mission, VFA-32 became home to the first American female pilot to engage and kill an air-to-air contact,” the Navy stated in an official release.

Houthi Drone Threat

The downed drone was part of a larger threat posed by the Houthis, an Iran-backed Shia rebel group based in Yemen. These drones have been used to target civilian merchant ships in the Red Sea and other areas, posing a significant risk to international shipping.

During the mission, the fighter group fired more than 20 air-to-air missiles against Houthi drones, highlighting the scale of the threat and the US Navy’s response.

Squadron Performance

VFA-32, nicknamed the “Flying Swordsmen,” has been at the forefront of operations against both ISIS and Houthi-led attacks. During their nine-month deployment, the squadron:

• Flew nearly 1,500 combat missions
• Amassed over 3,000 combat hours
• Led two of seven strikes against Houthi ground targets
• Destroyed various munitions sites and command and control facilities

Jason Hoch, the squadron’s commanding officer, praised their performance, saying, “We proved over and over again that the flexibility a carrier strike group brings to the fight is unmatched.”

Broader Military Response

The US military’s response to the Houthi threat has been comprehensive. The carrier strike group, which includes destroyers USS Mason and USS Gravely, and the cruiser USS Philippine Sea, launched:

• 155 conventional missiles
• 135 Tomahawk cruise missiles
• 60 air-to-air missiles
• 420 air-to-surface weapons

These were directed at more than 460 Houthi targets in Yemen.

Historical Context

This achievement comes about 30 years after another significant milestone for women in the US Navy. In 1994, Lt. Kara Hultgreen became the first carrier-based female fighter pilot, flying the F-14 Tomcat off the USS Abraham Lincoln.

DroneXL’s Take

This historic event underscores the growing importance of drone technology in modern warfare, both as a threat and as a target. The successful interception of a Houthi attack drone by a US Navy pilot demonstrates the evolving nature of air combat and the increasing need for advanced anti-drone capabilities.

As drone technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more scenarios where traditional fighter aircraft are tasked with countering unmanned aerial threats. This incident highlights the critical role that skilled pilots and advanced fighter jets play in maintaining air superiority and protecting vital shipping lanes.

At DroneXL, we’ve been following the development of counter-drone technologies and their integration into existing military platforms. This successful engagement by the US Navy pilot represents a significant real-world application of these evolving tactics and technologies.

As we continue to report on the latest developments in both civilian and military drone applications, this event serves as a reminder of the dual-use nature of drone technology and the ongoing need for effective countermeasures.