Reference News website reported on May 18th according to a report from the National Interest bimonthly website on May 16th, as reported by The New York Times, a surface-to-air missile fired by the Houthi armed group nearly hit the US fifth-generation fighter F-35 - the "gem" in the US fighter fleet. At that time, this F-35 fighter jet participating in the "Rogue Raider" operation against the Houthis was forced to take evasive action to avoid the incoming missile.

This incident has raised doubts about the survivability of one of America's most advanced fighters. It also makes people worry why the relatively backward Houthis' air defense system could effectively hinder the US military operation.

Military analyst Gregory Brook posted on X platform: "Several US F-16 fighters and an F-35 fighter were almost hit by the Houthis' air defense system, and the possibility of casualties among US personnel is real." He also said that the Houthis successfully shot down "seven US MQ-9 drones (each worth about $30 million), affecting Central Command's ability to track and strike the armed organization."

So, how vulnerable are American fighters to the Houthis' air defense systems?

The Houthis' air defense system is still rudimentary. However, it is highly mobile, meaning the Houthis can set up defensive weapons almost anywhere, making it difficult to predict their location and formulate strike plans. Additionally, the simplicity of these systems helps them avoid being detected early by America's advanced equipment. "Many (surface-to-air missiles) are also makeshift, utilizing non-traditional passive infrared sensors and temporarily modified air-to-air missiles, providing almost no early warning about threats, let alone incoming warnings," reports Warzone channel.

The Houthis also possess some modern systems provided by Iran, such as the "Thunder" surface-to-air missile system (as shown in the image). The exact capabilities of these surface-to-air missiles are unclear, but the Houthis claim that the maximum ranges of the "Thunder"-1 and "Thunder"-2 missiles are 31 miles and 44 miles (1 mile is approximately 1.6 kilometers), respectively, capable of striking targets at altitudes of 49,000 feet and 65,000 feet (1 foot is approximately 0.3 meters). The "Thunder" system is believed to be based on Iran's "Bird" series missiles, which themselves originated from the Soviet-era "SA"-6 and "SA"-11 air defense systems.

Warzone channel reported: "It is not entirely clear how the Houthis launched the 'Thunder'-1 and 'Thunder'-2 missiles, but the 'Bird' series missiles in service in Iran are launched using various wheeled launchers, some of which have integrated fire control radars." It is reported that some Iranian air defense systems capable of launching the 'Bird' series missiles also have electro-optical and/or infrared cameras to help capture, identify, and track targets.

The close encounter between the US F-35 fighter jet and the Houthi surface-to-air missiles has raised concerns about potential larger problems in future large-scale conflicts. That is, if an under-equipped armed organization can successfully disrupt US air operations over Yemen, how can the US effectively conduct air operations if there is a more advanced opponent in the airspace? If an F-35, with its ultra-low radar cross-section and fifth-generation stealth fighter, can be brought down by a Cold War-era surface-to-air missile defense system, how will F-35s (or other US fighters) cope with modern air defense systems?

It seems certain that, just like on the ground, having more expensive and advanced systems does not guarantee easy and sustained success. Low-tech systems often interfere with the effectiveness of high-tech systems. (Translated by Guo Jun)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7505762170206962202/

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