The Pentagon has yet to explain how three F-15 U.S. Strike Eagle fighters were shot down in a friendly fire incident in Kuwait. The six crew members all ejected safely. The F-15s were mistaken as aggressors by Kuwaiti defense forces and may have been downed by missiles from one or more Kuwaiti F/A-18 fighters. Officials of both countries have declined to discuss details of the event. “All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered and are in stable condition,” the Pentagon said in a release on Monday. “Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation.”
The F-15s were engaged in operations to support the joint U.S.-Israeli Operation Epic Fury, but their specific mission at the time has not been released. According to an analysis in Forbes, Kuwait uses an array of anti-aircraft defence systems, some of which date back to the Cold War but also include state-of-the-art gear. This mix of tech, a complex threat environment that included drones and crewed aircraft and the always unpredictable human factor holds multiple failures modes according to experts interviewed by Forbes.
Meanwhile, viral videos showing the result of what went wrong are circulating. The first video shows what appears to be the shoot-down sequence of one of the planes and the others show the different receptions two of the Air Force pilots received when they landed. We haven’t verified the authenticity of these videos, but they come from reputable sources.
Friendly fire INCIDENT??? This Pentagon release is PURE BRAVO SIERRA! USAF is evacuating aircraft from the Persian Gulf region flying them to Cyprus. Why? Iran is systematically destroying the US airbases and radar in the Persian Gulf region denying the USAF/US Navy/IAF any access to Iranian airspace removing any ability to even launch any airplane. All US/Israel attacks on Iran are by Tomahawks and stand off air launched missles being launched at extreme long range well outside of Iranian airspace. The only aircraft flying in Kuwait is US. Kuwait and the Pentagon knows Iranian retaliation response is NOT by Iranian aircraft. Once the Tomahawks and stand off missles are used up, US/Israel will be both defenseless due to the ineffective Patriot/THAAD missle systems which requires 2 missles launched for every one incoming drone/missle threat, and have no offensive weapons once the Tomahawks are exhausted which might be as soon as next week. And Iran can reach Cyprus which is becoming increasingly crowded with fleeing US aluminum. Think about what that could look like a week from now.
I haven’t seen this information reported anywhere else. Sources for it?
If your news sources are from legacy media regardless of their blue or red lens/filters, you will never see the truth for now. However, as disturbing my comment to the largely American audience presently is, the accuracy as the sources reflected in my comments becomes self evident and unquestionable relatively quickly. As a former, overseas mission aviation pilot/trainer/ops mgr, I have learned how to access accurate international information simply because it is central to having situational awareness no matter how inconvenient and/or disturbing it may presently be… including dealing with the USA narratives that the mission organization I worked for was often subjected to, was clearly not true in what was unfolding before my very eyes. It’s not saying my mission organization was nefarious. Being US based, they are prone to propaganda narratives just like anyone else. My eye witness experience juxtaposed to their initial understanding of the situation from the outside often led to early frustration causing some very interesting conversations on how they and I were going to handle what initially seemed and proved later to be in conflict. Over time, it became more and more obvious, unless you or someone trustworthy was actually “there”, the odds of accurate potentially, life saving, information would not come from US or international legacy media, import/export agencies, or even in country media. As a result, I am highly skeptical of any information coming from our government, Pentagon, Peace President Donald J. Trump, Fox & Friends Pete Hegseth, or legacy national/international media whose claims defy critical thinking inevitably being unmasked in a very short time. One can lie only so long before the gaslighting is exposed by the consequences of their actions easily displayed on the millions of cell phones proving the reality is 180 out from the narrative. Most folks reality is from their perceptions. Their perceptions often come from stereotypes. Stereotypes are formed from narratives… told loud enough and long enough to be perceived as truth. Example: I drive a red 1999 Corvette convertible, am 73 with mostly white hair. The perception to the average person is, I am rich, over-privileged, assumed short in a key component of my anatomy, using my car as an extension of assumed shortness, suffering a mid-life crisis, and as a result, I am trolling for a twenty something. Sound like hyperboly? Ask any male Corvette owner with gray or white hair how he is perceived. Iran evil, USA global moral guardian of what’s good chosen by God…always exceptional, militarily superior to everything and everyone on the planet… that’s the stereotypical American lens we tend to see others outside of our borders. It takes individual investment to get, access, accurate information followed with critical thinking to avoid being gaslit. Most folks do not want to do that because the reality becomes quite inconvenient. Easier to stay gaslit. Good luck with your quest for truth… signed US Navy/ naval aviation vet.
what squadron?
I’d like to know the same thing.
Crickets…
None of your business… but have been on plenty of boat dets , carrier quals, back seat qualified in several aircraft for PMCF’s, have performed many cat launches and traps, performed many ACBM’s, been assigned to several squadrons… two command advancements…suffice to say I know my way around a carrier and several cockpits of different types, current PPL, aircraft owner, and A&P. I am sure many AvBrief commenters have far more credentials and experience than me. But I did not spend my Navy time chipping paint.
Totally understand your feelings towards US sources. But as BobD was asking, what are your sources? That was a lot of facts and figures thrown our way.
Probably best not to give up good information sources in time of war, especially when bots are all over the internet attempting to remove good sources of information.
I think I addressed that in my second post asking the same question. My additional response to your question is… my sources are not one single article, not one single source, not coming from one single political worldview, etc. My information comes from eyewitness accounts, a variety of well vetted multiple geo- political/military/history analysts from multiple countries, former/current mission aviation relationships, my Navy career, etc. That has been developed over time, from a committed personal investment of time and energy. If one does not study cultural nuances, history, tech developments, etc… instead, being an end user just looking for the quick answer…providing an article citation really has little value.
I don’t share this with glee, no notion of triumph in that ” I told you so”, no sense of superiority or lack of patriotism seeing my veteran brothers and sisters dying for another war of aggression intentionally violating in every way, yet another country… their sovereignty… killing tens of thousands of people in the process. I know what that looks like up close and personal. At 73, I can only use my pen, my vote, and my personal experiences in my attempts to warn folks of this human catastrophy being played out before us. The US is now a rogue nation. And rogue nations do not play by any rules. I want the US to be the example of what it is to be constitutional republic of honor and integrity…not the shining example of what not to do.
There comes a point in time when the people are so deluded by communism from the education system that the military begins asking why they are fighting and dying for a nation of practical socialists and communists. You can’t reason with people who feel personally entitled to take the things of value that you have worked for. At that point, the Communists have won the war because no one is willing to fight and die for entitled brats and thieves who are unwilling to work for their own living.
Y’all—-Stop feeding this troll…..
A ’99 Corvette? Hahahahahah. You are not rich, that’s a $15,000 car. Get over yourself.
“The perception to the average person is, I am rich,”… is what I said in the post. Please reread for proper comprehension of my Corvette analogy. But you are right, I am not rich. And my C5 is indeed worth about $15k. FYI… My wife owns/drives a C6. She’s not rich either.
Boy, you need to take a pill. Gaslight? Listen to anything from the previous administration.
If you rely on mainstream media for accurate information about world events, then you have no hope of ever being informed.
You are obviously a misinformed person at best or a disinformation bot at worst. Everything you have stated as fact here is incorrect. Don’t know anything about your military background but I would hazard a guess you have never served.
If no American fighters are flying and all of this is done with Tomahawks how did the F15s (who were not flying according to you) end up in the air?
Americans were told to evacuate 14 countries in the Middle East 3 days ago.
“The only aircraft flying in Kuwait is US.”… This is what I said. No ambiguity in this statement. Please reread original post.
Iran shot down all three F-15’s… not with an airplane but by long range air to ground missles. Iran claimed this victories immediately.
The new spin added since my original post in this “friendly fire” incident is the three F-15’s were shot down by a Kuwaiti FA/18. FA/18’s are US built. Hence, all aircraft involved are US.
Whether you are upset with my post vs what legacy media has initially reported, then re-spun ranging from trigger happy ground defense or clueless Kuwaiti Hornet driver…US lost 3 expensive, late model F-15’s in the war driven combat environment.
No US aircraft are flying in Iranian airspace, requiring US missles to be fired outside of Iranian airspace. This includes both land based and carrier based US aircraft. That is what is termed standoff weapons. US does not have air supremacy. Therefore, US is only able to use Tomahawks (cruise missles) and aircraft launched standoff weapons which gives considerable advance warning for Iranian air defense.
Currently, all US land based fighter/bomber aircraft are now relocated to Cyprus and Crete. Why? All of the US bases in the Persian Gulf are destroyed. Can’t fly from “obliterated” airbases.
US does NOT have hypersonic missles. Iran does, some including both Mach 12 speeds, and maneuverability. They cannot be intercepted. Let me know if you need anymore clarification.
I think we have a Tehran Tom on our hands.
Nope… not a bot, nor Tehran Tom, and I am not on your hands. Just a guy responding to an article with a different perspective gained from different sources. It won’t be long before we both find out what the truth really is. No where to run, no where to hide… as the old Vietnam era song says. Uncomfortable with my comments? Good! Better yet, dig into some serious research and report your findings with a little more nuance than “I think we have a Tehran Tom on our hands”. TY… for your comment. I fought for you, too.
Hey hoss, it is becoming apparent that it was in fact friendly fire from a Kuwaiti F/A-18
“Friendly fire”…one of the most ominous oxymorons in the English language.
Yes. And 3 friendly fires brought down 3 undefeated American air superiority fighters with the latest technology? Maybe we are not being told the exact truth of the matter. And this on the same day as Americans were told to evacuate 14 Middle East countries of which Kuwait is one.
..I didn’t see any chutes after the strike… anyone else see them?
Russ needs to start a “foreign policy” thread. Glad crews are safe!
“Better safe than sorry” sounds fine until you’re on the receiving end of your own side’s mistake. Been there, twice.
Thanks for your service. I wanted to go in to Naval Aviation on the F-14 pipeline in college, but got DQ’d for a collapsed lung.
👍
My late father was drafted as soon as he graduated college and spent 2 winters fighting the Chinese in Korea. He said that fully 1/3 of their casualties were accidents and friendly fire. Human factors + tired humans + dangerous stuff = accidents.
Unfortunately, friendly fire accidents are as old as war. In June,1944, during the Normandy invasion, Lieutenant James Doohan of the third Canadian infantry division was shot six times by a fellow Canadian infantryman who mistook him for the enemy at night. Doohan was returned to Canada for rehabilitation and recovery. He went on to join the RCAF and flew as a spotter.
Following the war, he returned to his acting career and was eventually hired to be the chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise. Scotty, along with fellow Canadian, Captain James Kirk (William Shatner), and Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy), “lived long and prospered” through the TV series and several subsequent Star Trek motion pictures. At least in his case, the friendly fire incident came out okay.
My late father also used to say that we should never assume the people in charge know what they are doing.
Never underestimate the willingness of politicians to sacrifice your life in combat.
So the bad guys can’t seem to shoot down our aircraft but our friends can? Hummmmm
I saw two videos of aircrew immediately after they safely landed via parachute. A female aircrew was approached by a seemingly friendly, English speaking Kuwaiti who was offering help The male aircrew was approached by many Kuwaiti males who were aggressive and acting hostile, apparently they were unsure who this aircrew was and thought he was Iranian. Any any event, I saw no attempt by either US aircrew to defend themselves. Are they not issued pistols and trained to use them?????
the air force should advise Kuwait they’re going to buy us 3 brand new F-15s with all the latest bells & whistles, plus spares. Damn fools they are for doing that.