How the US Navy's first hostile drone kill with an air-to-air missile set the stage for the emergence of the 'Murder Hornet'
US Navy fighter jets have fought Houthi drones in a high-tempo operating environment over the Red Sea.
A first-of-its-kind battle in early 2024 highlighted another air-defense option for the Navy.
The Navy eventually added more air-to-air missiles to its F/A-18 fighter jets.
US Navy fighter jets fought a first-of-its-kind air battle against enemy drones over the Red Sea early last year, Business Insider has learned. Then, months later, American jets were seen flying with a new missile loadout.
The fight was the first successful naval engagement of an enemy drone with an air-to-air missile. It showed what was possible, setting the stage for the Navy to give its F/A-18s a greater air-defense role with a new heavy air-to-air "Murder Hornet" configuration.
Unit award documents obtained by BI show that on January 9, 2024, units from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group were patrolling Red Sea shipping lanes when Houthi rebels launched a large-scale attack with drones and anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles.
Two Navy destroyers — USS Gravely and USS Mason — engaged five of the drones, while a third destroyer, USS Laboon, engaged two anti-ship cruise missiles and an anti-ship ballistic missile.
Meanwhile, aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower — the lead ship in the strike group — to help confront the threat. The aircraft from Carrier Air Wing- 3 engaged five drones, marking the first successful naval engagement of a hostile drone with an air-to-air missile, one of the documents said.
The document said that "following the successful engagement" of the drone, the conventional loadout on the F/A-18 fighter jet was changed to support drone defense with more cost-effective weapons "while saving higher-end ordnance for more significant threats."
"Higher-end ordnance" appears to reference surface-to-air missiles launched from American warships.
These weapons can intercept drones, but they are significantly more expensive than missiles launched from a fighter jet. Ship-based interceptors such as the Standard Missile-series interceptors are better suited, from a cost perspective, to taking down enemy ballistic and cruise missiles rather than cheaper drones.
A Navy official told BI that the F/A-18 loadout was changed because of a range of lessons the sea service learned during the Houthi conflict. They said the fighter jets were eventually given more air-to-air munitions. Specifically, they were armed with a new configuration of four AIM-9X and five AIM-120 missiles.
Senior Navy officials have previously said that the new munitions configuration offered greater, much-needed firepower for the counter-drone fight in the Red Sea.
The AIM-9X is the newest model in the Sidewinder family of short-range missiles. The AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) is a beyond-visual-range weapon. Both munitions are made by American defense contractor RTX Corporation.
The office of the Chief of Naval Operations later identified a Boeing-made F/A-18 with a nine-missile configuration as a "Murder Hornet," a play on the fighter jet's actual name, the Super Hornet.
The CNO's office confirmed the new loadout was used in combat last year. It was first spotted on an F/A-18 during flight operations on the Eisenhower in the Red Sea in April 2024, as the Ike and the other ships in its strike group were deployed to the Middle East to confront the Houthis and their attacks on shipping lanes.
The conflict with the Houthis has been described as a complex, high-tempo operating environment, especially during Eisenhower's deployment. The January 2024 incident demonstrated what the F/A-18 could do against enemy drones, as these aircraft went on to destroy more during the deployment.
US forces have intercepted nearly 500 Houthi drones since the conflict began in October 2023. In March 2024, F/A-18 Super Hornets were spotted sporting drone and missile kill markings.
The Eisenhower carrier strike group fired nearly 800 munitions, including almost 60 air-to-air missiles, during its monthslong Middle East deployment, which ended last summer. Documents reviewed by BI showed that the strike group as a whole was recommended for a Combat Action Ribbon for its actions between October 2023 and May 2024.
Read the original article on Business Insider
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Top White House Aide Rails Against the Man Who Took His Wife
A livid Stephen Miller fired back against Elon Musk's criticisms of Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' without mentioning the billionaire by name. The top White House aide's voice gradually rose as he touted the sprawling piece of legislation, which Musk has repudiated, in a Fox Business interview Friday. The interview comes as rumors of a personal spat between Miller and Musk continue to swirl. On his way out the door of the White House, Musk took Miller's wife with him. Katie Miller, who had been a top aide at Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, left her post—and her husband's side—to continue working for the tech billionaire. 'Tax cuts and reforms. American energy independence. Full, complete, permanent border security and the largest welfare reform in American history,' Miller wailed. 'That's not pork. That's not waste. That's not new spending. That is the most conservative piece of legislation in my lifetime.' Miller's comments were a direct rebuke of Musk—who has described the bill as 'pork-filled' and a 'disgusting abomination.' The SpaceX founder's criticisms have erupted into a messy break-up with Trump, with the two heavyweights exchanging a series of blows on social media. 'There's this myth out there that we could do the DOGE cuts in this bill,' Miller said, addressing a criticism posed by supporters of the formerly Musk-led group where his wife worked. 'But that's a separate process.' Miller never mentioned Musk by name, but host Larry Kudlow—a Trump ally—made the connection for him. 'I don't think Elon understood that,' Kudlow said, referring to the nuances of legislation. 'I don't want to get into all that stuff... He's got $180 billion up on his website, okay. And God bless him for that. He's been helpful on that, that's terrific thing.' Miller smirked but said nothing. Musk became close with the Millers during his stint in government. The Wall Street Journal reported that Katie Miller was with Musk 'all the time' before following him out the door. Musk reportedly spent time with the couple even outside of work. The relationship between Musk and his underling's husband has deteriorated. 'The only 'new' spending in the bill is to defend the homeland and deport the illegals—paid for by raising visa fees,' Miller wrote on X this week in another dig at Musk. 'All the other provisions? Massive spending cuts. There is no 'pork' in the bill. Just campaign promises.' Musk unfollowed Miller on X shortly after.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Supreme Court gives DOGE access to millions of Americans' private Social Security data
The Brief The Supreme Court ruled DOGE can access personal data from the Social Security Administration. The case marks the first Supreme Court decision involving DOGE, once led by Elon Musk. The dissent warned the decision puts Americans' sensitive information at risk. WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Friday gave the green light for the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access one of the country's most sensitive databases — the Social Security Administration's internal systems — which hold information on nearly every American. The 6–3 decision, split along ideological lines, marks the first major Supreme Court ruling involving DOGE, the controversial agency once led by Elon Musk. The Court's majority reversed a lower court's order that limited DOGE's access under federal privacy law, siding with the administration's argument that the restrictions were hampering its anti-fraud mission. Liberal justices dissented, warning the decision erodes vital privacy protections. The backstory The Department of Government Efficiency — or DOGE — was established during President Trump's second term and tasked with rooting out government waste and inefficiency. Its first director was Elon Musk, who called the Social Security program a "Ponzi scheme" and repeatedly targeted it as a key source of fraud. Although Musk has since stepped away from DOGE, the department has continued aggressive efforts to audit and investigate various federal programs. Social Security has remained a top priority. The administration argued that unfettered access to the SSA's internal systems was essential to detect abuse, duplication, and improper payouts — particularly in disability and survivor benefits. Dig deeper The case originated in Maryland, where U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander ruled that DOGE's demand for open access to Social Security data amounted to a "fishing expedition" based on limited evidence of wrongdoing. She blocked broad access but allowed DOGE staff with training and security clearance to view anonymized data, and permitted expanded access only if a specific need was documented. The Trump administration appealed, arguing the court was overstepping its role and interfering with executive branch operations. An appeals court upheld the partial block, but the Supreme Court has now lifted it entirely. Solicitor General John Sauer told the Court the restrictions "micromanaged" DOGE's work and undermined its mission. The other side Opponents of the ruling, including the plaintiffs represented by the advocacy group Democracy Forward, argue that the Social Security Administration contains deeply personal data: salary history, school records, family relationships, medical conditions, and more. They warned that handing this information to a politically driven agency without individualized review poses massive privacy risks. Labor unions and retiree groups joined the lawsuit, saying the system could be weaponized against vulnerable Americans. The dissenting justices agreed. "There is no meaningful check here on the breadth or use of the data," one wrote. "We risk turning privacy law into an empty promise." Why you should care This decision expands the Trump administration's ability to conduct sweeping audits across government agencies using personal data. While supporters frame it as a win for accountability and fraud reduction, critics say it weakens safeguards that prevent misuse of federal databases. It also sets a precedent for how much control the courts can — or cannot — exert over federal agency operations, a core issue as Trump's administration continues to consolidate executive power. What's next With the Supreme Court's backing, DOGE is expected to move quickly in analyzing Social Security data. Critics worry this could lead to mass denials of benefits or politically motivated reviews. Supporters say it could lead to cost-saving reforms. The agency, which has faced more than two dozen lawsuits, remains under scrutiny. Legal challenges are ongoing regarding its personnel decisions, data practices, and oversight authority. The Source This report is based on coverage from the Associated Press and court documents related to the Supreme Court decision in the DOGE v. Democracy Forward case. Additional background was gathered from statements by the U.S. Solicitor General, District Court Judge Ellen Hollander's original ruling, and legal filings from the plaintiff groups, including labor unions and the nonprofit Democracy Forward.
Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business Insider
Trump signs Executive Order to ‘unleash American drone dominance'
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to 'ensure continued American leadership in the development, commercialization, and export of unmanned aircraft systems – otherwise known as drones,' the White House announced. 'The Order directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to expand drone operations by enabling routine 'Beyond Visual Line of Sight' drone operations for commercial and public safety missions, and to accelerate the development, testing, and scaling of American drone technologies, including advanced air mobility and autonomous operations. The Order establishes an electric 'Vertical Takeoff and Landing' integration pilot program to accelerate the deployment of safe and lawful vertical operations in the United States, selecting at least five pilot projects to advance applications like cargo transport and medical response,' the White House stated. Companies working on drones or low-altitude urban aircraft known as eVTOLs include AeroVironment (AVAV), Joby Aviation (JOBY) and Archer Aviation (ACHR). Confident Investing Starts Here:
