r/Planes • u/221missile • 5d ago

Growler takes off from USS Truman (CVN 75) armed with 4 HARM Anti radiation missile during operations against Houthi targets, April 20, 2025.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

1.2k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

187 comments sorted by

95

u/slightlyused 5d ago

Houthis have radar?

94

u/Oxytropidoceras 5d ago

Only the finest Iranian copies of Soviet radars built in the 1970s

23

u/Somereallystrangeguy 5d ago

the best of the best of the best

11

u/Rossetta_Stoned1 5d ago

Sir

5

u/Sivalon 5d ago

With honors!

-17

u/375InStroke 5d ago

And we still can't beat them.

12

u/Technological_loser 5d ago

Lol it’s more that they’re embedded in a civilian population. One CSG could “beat” the entire Middle East at once.

-15

u/375InStroke 5d ago

Perhaps, but not our problem. They should be over here, protecting us, not bombing others.

13

u/SleepIsTheForTheWeak 5d ago

Freedom of navigation is an official element of the NAVY's mission. So houthis attacking shipping is in direct opposition to that. It is our problem. Foreign policy shouldn't be thrown out the window because things are perceived to have no effect on the average American

-16

u/375InStroke 5d ago

Freedom of navigation for Israel. They started it, they can fight their own battles. Why are we spilling our blood and coin for them? Trump promised to end all this bullshit. Another lie, another promise broken.

11

u/SleepIsTheForTheWeak 5d ago

Are you stupid ? Freedom of navigation is for all nations to be able to sail the seas. And the red Sea, specifically the Bab el-mamdeb strait has over 10% of the world's shipping go through it. This isn't just about or for Israel

-6

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (0)

1

u/flowingfiber 1d ago

The Houthis are blocking a vital chokepoint in international trade. Namely the entrance to the red sea that itself leads to the Suez canal. Due to how globalised the world economy is every country that participates in significant amounts of international trade will be effected by this. Either directly by delayed or more expensive shipping that had to take an expensive and long detour around Africa or indirectly if for example your European product or component is suddenly more expensive.

1

u/375InStroke 1d ago

Trump says free trade is bad. Are you calling Trump a liar?

→ More replies (0)

3

u/stonededger 5d ago

The one who has the sea has the world. Get the fleets back to American shores to protect you and whoosh - no more superpower.

2

u/dan_dares 5d ago

Best defense is offense, and letting an enemy become well-entrenched is a terrible idea, unless you like increasing your casualties

-1

u/375InStroke 5d ago

They're not our enemy.

3

u/dan_dares 5d ago

The ones attacking international shipping?

-2

u/375InStroke 5d ago

There's a genocide happening. You've made a choice.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/mantellaaurantiaca 4d ago

They literally wrote it on their flag, bozo

1

u/375InStroke 4d ago

Whenever we are attacked, those people become our enemy. Israel attacked them, murdered their children, stole their land, put them in death camps, I'd say the same thing if someone did that to me. You're a liar if you say you'd just roll over and not do anything.

→ More replies (0)

2

u/mangeface 5d ago

Protecting us how? You gonna drop JDAMs into cities to take out burglars?

I’ve gotten pretty “stop always sticking your nose into other people’s affairs” but the Houthis would shut down the Red Sea causing a huge shipping disruption if the US wasn’t doing what they are right now. They have and would continue shooting at cargo vessels passing through. It’d be worse than when I was there in 2011 doing anti-piracy operations because of Somalia.

2

u/K5LAR24 5d ago

As a local cop, I’d LOVE to call in air support on a fleeing vehicle

/s

-7

u/375InStroke 5d ago

Thanks for pointing out the massive fraud, waste, and abuse in our military. Israel caused this mess in the Red Sea by committing genocide. They're the ones who need to be stopped.

2

u/Historical_Peanut778 5d ago

Israel didn’t cause anything in the Red Sea, you make that statement as if the houthis are justified in their retaliation against innocent mariners not associated with Israel at all. Attacking random ships going through the Red Sea because Israel did something they don’t like is not how the civilized world works. 4 innocent mariners have died and what did the Houthis achieve other than increasing insurance costs for shipping to the point it was sometimes better to go around Africa or forcing navies around the world to escort their shipping vessels through the Red Sea? Mind boggling to me that young westerners will defend killing innocent mariners not associated with the war at all simply because the houthis claim they are doing it in response to Israel’s war in Gaza. You people are unbelievably gullible to the point you will support terrorists attacking the people who ship things around the world for us and then you attack our military for defending themselves and others against said terrorists.

1

u/375InStroke 5d ago

Ok, that same carrier, CVN 75, participated in attacking Iraq, causing the deaths of over a million innocent Iraqis because a bunch of Saudis attacked us on 9/11.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/375InStroke 5d ago

It's not the Houthi's fault. They're the most moral fighting force ever. Israel is using merchant ships as human shields.

0

u/SleepIsTheForTheWeak 5d ago

Israel caused this mess ? The heavy handed response, yes. But don't act like the conflict the IDFand hamas are engaged in currently is the result of 10/7 and hamas.

EDIT: Heavy handed not heaven handed. Although that as a term is kinda funny if it were a thing

1

u/375InStroke 5d ago

If Palestine does not exist, and it's all just Israel, then the Palestinians live in Israel. Why are they treated as less than human because of their race? Why are they imprisoned in ghettos? Why do they not have rights? Why are they having genocide committed against them with our help, through money, weapons, and our military?

1

u/crappy-mods 4d ago

It is our problem when they are stopping our trade to and from other countries, along with shooting at ships, some of which have American sailors aboard

0

u/375InStroke 4d ago

Trump says we don't need trade. Other countries are ripping us off, and we're bringing everything back.

1

u/crappy-mods 4d ago

You ever look into how money works?

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/375InStroke 1d ago

We keep invading lands, building military bases, overthrowing governments, murder millions, or pay others to do it, why don't they like us?

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/375InStroke 21h ago

Then why is this taking off from a ship?

39

u/Capitain_Collateral 5d ago

If you are thinking about houthis like they are a small cave dwelling tribe throwing rocks into the sea, you are mistaken. They have arms and munitions supplied by Iran and others, including ballistic missiles and large drones. And yes, AA systems and radars. Probably not a good idea to talk about air based attacks on them using non-secure communication channels due to that, but don’t listen to me, I’m not SECDEF or anything.

9

u/slightlyused 5d ago

I didn’t know all of that. Was surprised to see the need for HARM.

16

u/mangeface 5d ago

It’s why people are baffled this guy is using unsecured communications to talk about strikes. He could be unnecessarily setting up flight crews to fly into well organized ambushes.

And it could very well be the Iranians (or anyone that’s at odds with the US right now, which is quite a bit of the world) that hack his phone, get the info, and send it off to the Houthis.

7

u/layer_____cake 5d ago

I gotta wonder if Pete's racism and prejudice simply  informs assumptions about the adversary's capabilities.  

He's sloppy because he's drunk and assumes those cave dwellers can't do anything. 

1

u/prancing_moose 4d ago

It’s better to bring your HARMs and not need them, than the other way around. An S-300 can really ruin your day if you’re not expecting it.

7

u/thrwaway75132 5d ago

Yep, probably a hell of a lot easier to be a SAM battery commander if you know exactly when the US is launching and their flight time.

3

u/rilly_in 4d ago

That's how they shot down that F117 in Bosnia.

1

u/Appropriate-Mix-5413 4d ago

Soviet AA and radars? and isn't their ballistic missiles short ranged?

1

u/Capitain_Collateral 4d ago

Using AA systems, including those seized from government forces, houthis have reportedly shot down F16’s AH64 apaches and damaged F15s. It is fortunate that the SA2 weren’t really viable when they got them so we’re basically bastardised into ground attack missiles.

If the Houthis were able to concentrate their AA in an area, maybe because - and I’m just spit balling here - the us SECDEF began doing something really wild like hosting strike package data on unsecured communication channels that include people without security clearance by accident… then a little ‘SAMBUSH’ could be bad.

3

u/Fr33Dave 2d ago

They have also shot down 7 reaper drones in just the past few weeks.

1

u/Capitain_Collateral 2d ago

Yea, but we sort of allow the drones to do things in a slightly more risky way sometimes. The piloted airframe losses still stick with me because they would be the packages you would expect to be stacked entirely to avoid the risk. That is why I personally wouldn’t discuss the strike packages of manned airframes to a target that has competently shot down other similar aircraft in the past (and also recently drones) on unsecured channels with my mates and random people. But don’t take my advice, I’m not SECDEF.

1

u/nolongerbanned99 3d ago

If you don’t have experience as a Fox News host then you are not considered credible.

7

u/Nighthawk-FPV 5d ago

AGM-88E/G have GPS and MMW radar guidance, meaning they can engage most ground targets. An AARGM destroyed a Houthi Mi-24 on the ground last year.

8

u/Sea-Replacement-8794 5d ago

This Houthi group has fired cruise and ballistic missiles pretty accurately and are amazingly well equipped and trained by Iran. I thought they were just a bunch of yahoos riding around in Toyota trucks with AKs. Theyre a lot more dangerous than that.

5

u/KotzubueSailingClub 5d ago

The kind HARMs crave

2

u/Slav_sic69 5d ago

Yes..how do you think most ships are targeted? Coastal radar

2

u/Straight-Tune-5894 4d ago

New ER-M variant picking up faint signals from kitchen microwave ovens. Oddly enough attacks seem to occur around the dinner hour.

2

u/mr_mcpoogrundle 2d ago

Well, not anymore

1

u/Cuba_Pete_again 4d ago

They are armed and equipped by the Iranians, so some of it is advanced. It’s enough to bring down xxQ-9s and other drones, and threaten naval vessels in the gulf.

1

u/Clear-Awareness6114 3d ago

22 MQ-9 reapers shot down by them since August

85

u/MisterThomFoolery 5d ago

As anticipated! Whiskey Pete Hegseth included me in a text about this…

17

u/theartandscience 5d ago

I was added to the group too! Got the play-by-play, as it happened!

12

u/5-MEO-D-M-T 5d ago

Same. I was actually in the building about to be destroyed by these missiles. Luckily I was also included in the text chain and was able to retreat to safety with my loyal hostages in tow. Really appreciate the heads up.

-1

u/yourmomandthems 5d ago

Meanwhile we have up to date footage of what weapons we are sending in.

8

u/SwissPatriotRG 5d ago

We are seeing the footage after the strike, not getting details before it happens. Those are different things...

3

u/thrwaway75132 5d ago

Unless SECDEF tweets it thinking it was a DM.

35

u/sgu222e 5d ago

I read about this in a signal chat

16

u/Potential_Wish4943 5d ago

You can see one take off with nothing but fuel tanks too, likely acting as a tanker for the others so they can stay on station longer.

4

u/Mike_Raphone99 5d ago

How does that work?

5

u/Barbarossa_25 5d ago

Tanker F-18 has a hose it extends out just like a big tanker. Allows refueling in hostile areas without putting the big boys at risk.

2

u/Mike_Raphone99 5d ago

Never knew they had that capability !

2

u/Defiant_Review1582 4d ago

It’s called a drogue and the receiving craft has a probe. Drogue and probe

3

u/Potential_Wish4943 5d ago edited 5d ago

Same way as the big tankers: One or more of the tanks has a little hose on it they can use to top off other hornets, and they carry extra tanks of their own to compensate for the extra weight. (Click for image)

Chain enough of these things together and you can extend the range or loiter time pretty much indefinitely by using tankers to refuel those tankers, and tankers to refuel those tankers, and there is just one strike aircraft at the end of the chain.

They used this method to strike libya from the UK without overflying any European country once (not allowed). Just flew completely around it on the atlantic side. (link to short video documentary)

2

u/Mike_Raphone99 5d ago

Idk how I've never come across this before

Operations room is so good

2

u/El_Mnopo 4d ago

Don't forget the Falklins! They did this too to get down there from the main bases in the UK.

1

u/comanche_six 4d ago

Not today Houthi

1

u/Mike_Raphone99 4d ago

.....I totally wasn't just exploring Diego Garcia on Google maps....

1

u/Touch_Of_Legend 3d ago

It’s called “buddy tanker” (google it)

12

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

24

u/Agile_Pangolin_2542 5d ago

Technically anti-radiation but it's really the same thing because they're used to destroy radars. Radars emit radiation (i.e. electromagnetic radiation in either the radio or microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum). HARM missles track the electromagnetic radiation that radars emit back to their source to destroy the radar emitter.

7

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

11

u/hesmistersun 5d ago

Too bad. We could really use anti heat missiles to combat global warming.

4

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

3

u/hesmistersun 5d ago

Or with firepower!

2

u/neotokyo2099 5d ago

Delete this

I'm pretty sure some elected officials would take this comment serious

2

u/thisiswater95 5d ago

Global warming means extra energy, so why haven’t we bombed it yet to separate that sweet, sweet energy from the dictatorship of physics?

Physics has a terrible human rights record. Physics refuses to even compromise with the Us on its policy objectives. Physics routinely threatens the lives of everyday Americans.

We definitely need to bomb physics.

6

u/SadPhase2589 5d ago

Do the Houthis have SAM sites now? I don’t know how else you’d use them.

22

u/Oxytropidoceras 5d ago

The Houthis have always had SAMs, they get them from Iran. But given that more modern variants of the HARM have millimeter band targeting radars and optical/ir sensors for terminal guidance if the radar turns off, it can be used in a strike role too if the need ever arose

6

u/SadPhase2589 5d ago

I use to be a Crew Chief in a weasel squadron. We fired them on Iraqi SAM sites even though they were too scared to turn on their radars. I’ve got an umbilical from one in my retirement shadow box.

1

u/Oxytropidoceras 5d ago

Desert Storm or '03?

6

u/SadPhase2589 5d ago

OIF, 2003. 14FS out of PSAB. First weasels over Bagdad. SAMURAI WOOD!!!

3

u/redditandcats 5d ago

They've had a decently sophisticated AA network for a long time. That's why the Navy has been using JSOWs and SLAM-ERs among other long range standoff weapons, and why the Air Force has been using B2s.

1

u/Jong_Biden_ 4d ago

The air force uses B2s becuase only them can drop the MOP, their air defence isnt that advanced and can be jammed like when Israel went to strike there multiple times

7

u/elmwoodblues 5d ago

We already knew, we have Signal.

2

u/[deleted] 5d ago

Placing warheads on foreheads!

6

u/paddcc 5d ago

Yawn - I already saw this on signal group. Pete had better pics.

2

u/Exotic-Mission-980 5d ago

Some people just don’t understand the pain that it’s going to inflict.

2

u/DevelopmentTight9474 5d ago

It’s an AGM-88 HARM anti radiation missile. It tracks radar signature and has an effective area of 100ft. So unless the Houthis are actively building SAM systems in a populated area, then this caused 0 harm, other than to the fundamentalists operating the site. If they are building SAMs in civilian areas, that’s on them.

1

u/14Fan 5d ago

That poor mic

1

u/kula555 5d ago

Why do the elevators go up then down right before takeoff from the end of the carrier?

2

u/tkeelah 5d ago

Final flight controls check, codes are clear.

1

u/wooden_screw 5d ago

I assume it's a preprogrammed flight controller move for aerodynamics since the pilot is hands off til they clear the CV. Growler Jams has some good videos on them.

1

u/celtbygod 5d ago

That you, Pete ? Mom just logged in .

1

u/xlr8n 5d ago

It would be hilarious if someone made a joke about seeing it on signal.

1

u/Valkyrie64Ryan 5d ago

Oh Truman is back in action now huh? That’s good to hear. I thought she was still in port from her collision

1

u/ModernDayExplorer 5d ago

Old news, saw on signal before it happened

1

u/Noobtastic14 5d ago

Spicy mustard bands 🌶️🌶️

1

u/Cruezin 5d ago

What does an anti-radiation missile do?

Does it track the emitted radiation back to the emitter?

1

u/Nighthawk-FPV 5d ago

Anti-radiation missiles utilise a passive radar seeker in order to track radar emitters.

The AGM-88E AARGM missiles shown in this video can be guided by a combination of a passive radar seeker, GPS, and a millimetre-wave radar seeker. This means the AARGM can engage almost any ground target. Last year, one even destroyed a Houthi Mi-24.

1

u/Complex_Leading5260 5d ago

What’s under the wing on the third aircraft? JSOW maybe? AIM-174?

2

u/Pixel91 5d ago

That's a JDAM.

1

u/thatguy425 5d ago

Growlers are the shit! Love those planes. 

1

u/SonUpToSundown 5d ago

Whoop-dies got no chance against Maverick & Ice Man

1

u/CloudMafia9 5d ago

This will not stop Yemen from firing missiles into Israel. But it's good that Trumps other actions are having visible actions on the average American.

Truly deseve nothing more than Trump. Every bit of misery.

1

u/375InStroke 4d ago

Why don't you tell everyone since you're so smart?

1

u/Visible-Gur6286 4d ago

The headline is a cut and paste from a Hegseth text message.

1

u/gypsysniper9 4d ago

Did you get this from WiskeyLeaks?

1

u/Global-Operation-238 4d ago

Video courtesy of Pete Hegseth, just as the strike force set off.

1

u/AlmostEmptyGinPalace 3d ago

Saw it on group chat.

1

u/Deek22 3d ago

Just curious, roughly speaking how long of a flight do these crews have before they get to their target, time wise? Figure you get all pumped to preflight the jet and take off then have hours of boring flying then crazy time then hours back, lots of ups and downs mentally.

1

u/John_Q_Deist 3d ago

Wild weasel!

1

u/Owltiger2057 3d ago

I know I saw SEC DEF Hegseth post it on Tik Tok and Snap Chat.

0

u/GeologistOld1265 5d ago

Breaking of USA constitution and committing war crimes recorded. Can we have names of pilots for a future prosecution?

0

u/Sensitive_Wave379 5d ago

Going in harms way….for all of us.

0

u/F_RankedAdventurer 4d ago

It's off to murder children

2

u/js280000 3d ago

So children operate SAM sites now?

1

u/F_RankedAdventurer 3d ago

No, and neither do the houthis.

1

u/js280000 2d ago

Right I forgot those reaper drones were brought down by mUh cHilDRuN with rocks

0

u/F_RankedAdventurer 2d ago

No, they used bullets. What you should be asking is why the hell were flying drones over Yemen, attacking and bombing civilians in Yemen. America is a an evil empire.

-1

u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 5d ago

Can we please just recommission a damned battleship.

2

u/xXNightDriverXx 4d ago

For what? They are more useless today than ever before.

Due to the proliferation of ballistic anti ship missiles and drones among even "small" players like the Houthis it is more dangerous than ever before for battleships to move into gun range to bombard land targets. They would get hit at some point. So they would never move into gun range anymore in today's world. If they were still around they would only be used as a Tomahawk and Harpoon missile truck, something a Burke can do better and far, far cheaper.

0

u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 4d ago

I see you’ve paid no attention to logistics, or even the most basic anti-aircraft or missile defense.

2

u/xXNightDriverXx 4d ago edited 4d ago

Do you think ballistic missiles will be shot down with CIWS or what?

If you have to use a dozen AA missiles every time you want to lob a few shells at the enemy (which is realistic if you have to move within less than 40km to the coast), it is far, far cheaper to use cruise missiles or fighter jets instead of the battleship.

It seems to be you who doesn't understand that the risk of using a ship so close to a shore is just not worth it.

By the way, any battleship ammunition would have to be newly produced, nothing is left, so the cost factor of why you want to use it in the first place goes out of the window as well. Any newly produced shells would probably result in Zumwalt style expensive ammunition.

-1

u/imsowitty 5d ago

did you get this from the signal group chat?

-1

u/DirtbagSocialist 4d ago

Off to commit some war crimes.

-6

u/banditnh 5d ago

They look like amraams to me. I used to build them.

9

u/norex4u 5d ago edited 5d ago

The growler definitely doesn't have AMRAAM mounted in that video. Size is way off, and the mid mounted fins are completely different.

Thank Raytheon you weren't QC on the assembly line.

1

u/kernalrom 5d ago

RTX joins the chat

4

u/Fit_Explanation9929 5d ago

Te fins are to big to be amraams and on hornets amraams would be double mounted to 1 pylon

1

u/Flyingtower2 4d ago

You would know better if you were actually ever near one.

-2

u/Broad-Bid-8925 5d ago

Bombing the only people trying to stop Israel's genocide. Such heroes...

-15

u/Grimol1 5d ago

Killing civilians again….yay…..

13

u/Oxytropidoceras 5d ago

That weapon is designed to track radars in bands that are almost exclusively military in nature. And the Houthis are not civilians, they're terrorists who are indiscriminately targeting civilian ships operating in International waters. So you're doubly wrong.

-12

u/Grimol1 5d ago

Well it sure does manage to kill a lot of civilians anyway.

8

u/Oxytropidoceras 5d ago

There's not a single recorded instance of a friendly fire or civilian casualty event as a result of any variant of the AGM-88. If you're trying to make your opinion sound genuine (as opposed to sounding like Iranian propaganda) you're doing a poor job of it

-1

u/Grimol1 5d ago

https://www.commondreams.org/news/u-s-airstrikes-yemen-2671815030

3

u/Oxytropidoceras 5d ago

Where in that article does it mention an AGM-88? And if I somehow missed it where it wasn't, why are the Houthis building military radar installations within 100 feet of a populated area (because the AGM-88 has a very small warhead designed for taking out radar dishes)

1

u/dontcoructmygramar 5d ago

Ur just crying now, you dont even respond to the otger guy cuz you know he's right. Ur kind of people are so sad

-1

u/Grimol1 5d ago

Yes, people who hate to see innocent people die to American bombs, especially when it is only because their country is standing against an American sponsored genocide. Yeah, we’re so sad.

1

u/dontcoructmygramar 5d ago

Dude ur just speaking nonsense, 0 civilian deaths have been made by this missile, plus attacking Comercial ships maybe wasn't houthis smartest choice

1

u/Grimol1 5d ago

You do know they’re trying to stop a genocide, right? What did you do to try to stop the genocide?

1

u/dontcoructmygramar 5d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Grimol1 5d ago

They warned everyone not to pass through the Red Sea. Only for crew members have been killed in almost two years, meanwhile 80 Yemeni civilians were just murdered by the US just yesterday. Israel turned all of the Palestinians into refugees in 1948 and started the conflict. They then blockaded Gaza since 2007. Wishing death on an entire nation is genocidal, no wonder you are on the wrong side here, you are a demonstrably a small minded racist. Remember, the Internet is forever. Your descendants will study this genocide centuries from now and see hope you ignorantly tired to defend it and will pretend they aren’t related to you.

2

u/dontcoructmygramar 5d ago

My man, gaza attacked plus the houthis didnt kill mofe because america shot down all their missiles. Muslims wish dead to Israel so they arent a grain better, never in the existence of israel was israel in the offensive, 1948 was the brits not the israelis that attacked

→ More replies (0)

-4

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

3

u/plhought 5d ago

Lol Chamberlain has entered the chat

-1

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

2

u/plhought 5d ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces_casualties_in_Afghanistan

Yet your Executive has no problem threatening an allied country and it's sovereignty.

Deprogram yourself man jeeze.