First Combat Deployment of US F-35C Fighters in Strategic Strikes Against Houthis in Yemen
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Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the United States mobilized its air power for targeted strikes against military infrastructure controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. On the night of November 10–11, 2024, combat aircraft, including F-35Cs from the U.S. Marine Corps deployed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, participated in an operation led by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). This mission marked the first combat engagement of F-35Cs in an active theater.
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The F-35C Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 joined the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2022 to deploy as part of Carrier Strike Group 3 (Picture source: US DoD)
The F-35C Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed for carrier-based operations. It features advanced stealth technology for low radar visibility and is powered by the F135-PW-100 engine, enabling it to reach speeds of up to Mach 1.6. With a wingspan of 13.1 meters and a length of 15.7 meters, it can carry up to 8,160 kg of payload, including AIM-120C/D and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, GBU-31 JDAM and GBU-12 LGB guided bombs, as well as AGM-154 JSOWs.
Equipped with the AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the F-35C provides advanced detection and tracking capabilities. Its AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare suite offers protection against electronic threats, while the AN/AAQ-40 electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) ensures precise targeting. These systems, along with sophisticated sensor fusion, grant the F-35C unparalleled situational awareness, enhancing its lethality and survivability in combat.
The targets included weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas, where advanced conventional arms used to target both military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden were reportedly stored. According to Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder, these strikes directly responded to Houthi attacks on American, commercial, and allied vessels. Ryder stated that the U.S. would maintain pressure on the Houthis to prevent future attacks.
This operation involved multiple aircraft, including the F-35C, F/A-18F Super Hornet, and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare plane, all deployed from the USS Abraham Lincoln. While the strikes were initially attributed to the Navy, it was later confirmed that the F-35Cs involved were part of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314), the “Black Knights,” the first F-35C squadron to be deployed aboard the Lincoln.
The deployment of the F-35C in combat represents a significant milestone for this stealth aircraft variant, which was first operational in 2019 and had its initial deployment in 2021. Until this mission, the F-35C had not seen active combat, unlike the earlier F-35B and F-35A versions, which were deployed in 2018 and 2019 for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively.
In response, the Houthis launched an extensive attack on November 11. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Stockdale and USS Spruance were targeted by eight kamikaze drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and three anti-ship cruise missiles in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. All were successfully intercepted without damage or casualties.
The military capabilities of the Houthis, bolstered by Iranian weapons and technology transfers, continue to raise international concern. A recent U.N. report highlighted that Iranian support has enabled the Houthis to become a formidable military force with capabilities far beyond those of a typical armed group. It is also suggested that Russia may be providing intelligence and anti-ship missiles to the Houthis.
These American strikes and recent interceptions underscore the complex security landscape in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The United States has strengthened its military posture to secure these critical maritime routes amid increasingly sophisticated threats. The deployment of F-35Cs in this conflict reflects a strategic evolution in U.S. military presence in the region and demonstrates its ability to counter diverse threats posed by Iran-backed Houthi forces.
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Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the United States mobilized its air power for targeted strikes against military infrastructure controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. On the night of November 10–11, 2024, combat aircraft, including F-35Cs from the U.S. Marine Corps deployed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, participated in an operation led by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). This mission marked the first combat engagement of F-35Cs in an active theater.
The F-35C Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 joined the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2022 to deploy as part of Carrier Strike Group 3 (Picture source: US DoD)
The F-35C Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed for carrier-based operations. It features advanced stealth technology for low radar visibility and is powered by the F135-PW-100 engine, enabling it to reach speeds of up to Mach 1.6. With a wingspan of 13.1 meters and a length of 15.7 meters, it can carry up to 8,160 kg of payload, including AIM-120C/D and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, GBU-31 JDAM and GBU-12 LGB guided bombs, as well as AGM-154 JSOWs.
Equipped with the AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the F-35C provides advanced detection and tracking capabilities. Its AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare suite offers protection against electronic threats, while the AN/AAQ-40 electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) ensures precise targeting. These systems, along with sophisticated sensor fusion, grant the F-35C unparalleled situational awareness, enhancing its lethality and survivability in combat.
The targets included weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas, where advanced conventional arms used to target both military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden were reportedly stored. According to Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder, these strikes directly responded to Houthi attacks on American, commercial, and allied vessels. Ryder stated that the U.S. would maintain pressure on the Houthis to prevent future attacks.
This operation involved multiple aircraft, including the F-35C, F/A-18F Super Hornet, and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare plane, all deployed from the USS Abraham Lincoln. While the strikes were initially attributed to the Navy, it was later confirmed that the F-35Cs involved were part of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314), the “Black Knights,” the first F-35C squadron to be deployed aboard the Lincoln.
The deployment of the F-35C in combat represents a significant milestone for this stealth aircraft variant, which was first operational in 2019 and had its initial deployment in 2021. Until this mission, the F-35C had not seen active combat, unlike the earlier F-35B and F-35A versions, which were deployed in 2018 and 2019 for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively.
In response, the Houthis launched an extensive attack on November 11. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Stockdale and USS Spruance were targeted by eight kamikaze drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and three anti-ship cruise missiles in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. All were successfully intercepted without damage or casualties.
The military capabilities of the Houthis, bolstered by Iranian weapons and technology transfers, continue to raise international concern. A recent U.N. report highlighted that Iranian support has enabled the Houthis to become a formidable military force with capabilities far beyond those of a typical armed group. It is also suggested that Russia may be providing intelligence and anti-ship missiles to the Houthis.
These American strikes and recent interceptions underscore the complex security landscape in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The United States has strengthened its military posture to secure these critical maritime routes amid increasingly sophisticated threats. The deployment of F-35Cs in this conflict reflects a strategic evolution in U.S. military presence in the region and demonstrates its ability to counter diverse threats posed by Iran-backed Houthi forces.
