Summary
- US Navy used EA-18G Growler to destroy Houthi Mi-24/35 Hind helicopter.
- Kill mark of Hind appeared on a Growler on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
- The engagement shows AARGM missile has precision strike capabilities against non-radiating targets.
The US Navy apparently destroyed a rare Houthi Mi-24/35 Hind attack helicopter earlier in the year. New reporting by The War Zone says the attack was carried out by a Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare fighter jet using an AARGM (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile). The Houthi rebels control much of northern Yemen and have been attacking international shipping for months. In response, the US and UK have been conducting air strikes to degrade and deter the Houthis.
EA-18G Growler destroys Houthi Mi-24/35 Hind
On May 15, a mysterious “kill mark” of a Hind appeared on a Growler on the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (aka Ike). According to The War Zone, the Navy confirmed this previously unconfirmed kill only on Thursday. The Navy did not confirm that the “kill mark” and the destruction of the reported Hind were the same incident.
Photo: U.S. Navy
This comes after the Houthis repeatedly claimed to have hit the Eisenhower and a bunch of other US and merchant ships. The commanding officer of the Eisenhower apparently responded to sensational online rumors of the mighty ship’s demise by posting images of the crew baking cookies.
The kill is a little peculiar as the EA-18G Growler is a specialized version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet built for electronic warfare – not so much striking targets. Adding to the peculiarity is that the AARGM is designed to hit radiating targets (like radar). The AARGM is an evolution of the HARM missile. The engagement shows that the missile also has precision strike capabilities against non-radiating targets. Growlers are known to be receiving expanded air-to-air missile capabilities.
The War Zone stated that the Hind was reportedly struck on the ground (which is also a little odd for a Growler). The attack happened on February 24 when the Navy (together with the British) launched attacks on 60 Houthi targets (targets also included anti-ship missile sites, command and control centers, and other targets).
Related
The Boeing EA-18G Growler: 5 Things You Need To Know
A quick dive into the fighter and its 15-year history.
The fledging Houthi ‘air force’
The Yemeni Air Force previously had a number of Soviet/Russian Mi-24/35 Hind derivatives in service. Some of these were destroyed during the Yemeni Civil War and the Saudi-led Arab coalition air strikes. It had been thought none of the Houthi-captured Hinds were operational; however, it appears a few had been made operational. Separately, it would appear the Taliban in Afghanistan have had surprising success in resorting an air force of sorts.
In September 2023, Aviation Week reported that the Houthis were reestablishing some sort of nascent air force by restoring a Northrop F-5 Tiger combat aircraft. The jet has been seen making a series of flypasts over Houthi events. It is unclear if the US Navy or British RAF have since also destroyed this fledging one-jet air force and any other aircraft the Houthis may have made operational.