U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk Helicopter Shoots Down Houthi Drone for the First Time
Story by James Gray • 8h
The U.S. Navy's premier anti-submarine (ASW) and anti-surface (ASuW) helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk, has shot down its first drone, marking a new milestone for the service.
During an address on Jan. 16, 2025, at the Surface Navy Association's annual symposium, near Washington DC, Admiral James Kilby, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, revealed the successful destruction of a Houthi drone by a U.S. Navy helicopter. Kilby was addressing the United States' efforts in the Red Sea, before stating "I was sitting in my office not too long ago where we had the first helicopter shoot down a UAV."
This was later clarified in a follow up conversation with Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever, commander of
Naval Air Forces, who confirmed that the shoot down occurred "about a month ago" and involved a MH-60R Seahawk attached to the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.
They did not state as to the type of drone that was struck by the Seahawk, nor the weapon system employed, however Cheever stated during the symposium that an "unconventional system" was used to take it down, suggesting that the helicopter may have used a weapon system not normally used against aerial threats.
The Warzone, who first reported the story about the shoot down, suggested several options for the type of munitions possibly used against the Houthi drone.
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