Recently, the Navy disclosed details of its program of so-called “emergency response”, within the framework of which the American carrier-based F/A-18 Super Hornet multi-role fighters, as well as the carrier-based EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, should have received more opportunities to counter the drones of the Yemeni Houthis.
It is about the possibility for these planes to carry air-to-air missiles. AIM-9X Sidewinder on pylons under the wings of these aircraft. And the other day, the U.S. Navy released an image showing a Super Hornet fighter with a new weapon option, including four AIM-9X missiles, on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, according to The War Zone.
And if the Super Hornet actually received an addition, because these missiles were already installed on the wing tips of this aircraft, then for the Growler it was a new system (at least in the US Navy, because, for example, the Australian Growlers already had this capability) and will complement the missiles AIM-120 AMRAAM. Such innovations should improve the ability of the United States to protect civilian shipping, and its own ships, as well as the ships of allies from terrorist attacks.
And here the publication emphasizes the fact that this episode with the rapid deployment of an additional number of missiles on aircraft “is a good practice for rapidly delivering critical capabilities and enhancements suitable for a hot conflict zone.
In particular, it is assumed that during large-scale hostilities in the Pacific region, similar “quick response programs” will be relevant, and here, of course, the fact of borrowing the experience of other countries, as was the case with the Growler, is also important.
Finally, it is noted that this episode with AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles demonstrates that in certain cases, when truly necessary, the US military can act quickly enough to obtain additional capabilities.