A US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet, which had just taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, was shot down by a missile fired from the USS Gettysburg, a guided-missile cruiser, over the Red Sea. Both pilots ejected and survived, with one sustaining minor injuries.
The incident is considered friendly fire because the USS Gettysburg, part of the same carrier strike group as the F/A-18, mistakenly identified the fighter jet as a hostile target and launched a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) to intercept it. This occurred during a routine refueling mission, highlighting a failure in the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system.
The IFF system is a radar-based identification system used to distinguish between friendly and hostile aircraft. It works by sending an encrypted signal to an aircraft. If the aircraft is friendly, it responds with a coded signal confirming its identity. If no response or an incorrect response is received, the system may classify the aircraft as hostile. However, technical glitches, human error, or signal interference can lead to misidentification.
The podcast mentions several historical friendly fire incidents, including the 2003 incident where a US Patriot missile system in Iraq shot down a British Tornado fighter jet and a US F/A-18. Another example is the 2023 incident where a Russian S-300 missile system shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet. Additionally, the 1988 incident where the USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing 290 civilians, is also discussed.
Preventing friendly fire incidents is challenging due to the complexity of modern warfare, the reliance on automated systems like IFF, and human factors such as fatigue or misjudgment. Technical issues, such as system malfunctions or signal interference, can also lead to errors. Additionally, the high-stress environment of combat zones can exacerbate these risks, making it difficult to completely eliminate friendly fire incidents.
The 1976 Belenko defection incident, where a Soviet pilot flew a MiG-25 to Japan, exposed the vulnerabilities of the Soviet IFF system. Following the defection, the Soviet Union had to spend significant resources to replace and upgrade its IFF systems across its military aircraft. This incident highlights the risks of relying on a single, potentially compromised IFF system, especially in the context of espionage or defection.
Several examples of civilian aircraft being mistakenly shot down include the 1988 Iran Air Flight 655 incident, where the USS Vincennes shot down the plane, killing 290 people. Another example is the 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which was shot down over Ukraine, likely by a surface-to-air missile. Additionally, the 2020 Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by Iranian forces shortly after takeoff, resulting in 176 deaths.
Human error plays a significant role in friendly fire incidents, as operators may misinterpret data, fail to follow protocols, or make incorrect judgments under pressure. For example, in the December 22nd incident, the USS Gettysburg's crew may have been fatigued or overly cautious due to prolonged engagement with Houthi threats, leading to the misidentification of the F/A-18 as a hostile target. Human factors, such as stress and fatigue, can amplify the likelihood of errors in high-stakes environments.
12月22日号,一架刚从“哈里·S·杜鲁门”号航空母舰起飞的美国海军F/A-18“大黄蜂”战斗机,当天在红海上空被“葛底斯堡”号导弹巡洋舰发射的防空导弹击落。
这种新闻怎么能少了暴论熊的解读,误击友军,误击同编队的友军,误击民航,这是否是美帝衰落的象征?
历史上有多少误击友军,多少误击民航的事件?
为什么技术上如此难以解决?
防空防空,防一场空又是为什么?
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