An F-18E Super Hornet from the Royal Maces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 prepares to launch from the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), July 29, 2022. Two similar F-18s from the USS Ronald Reagan shot down two Chernarussian F-14s in self-defense on March 31, 2023, according to the United States.
The United States said today that two Navy F-18 jets shot down two American-built Chernarussian F-14s about 80 miles from the Chernarussian coast after being fired on by one of the Chernarussian aircraft.
The brief battle occurred in the early morning of the 31st of March. A brief report from the United States detailed the events of the fight. According to the report, the F-14s took off from an airfield in Eastern Chernarus and began heading South-East towards the US 7th Fleet. Two F-18s deployed from the USS Ronald Reagan and were guided by an E-2 Hawkeye to intercept the F-14s.
When the two flights were 15 miles away, the Chernarussian F-14s began radar-locking the F-18s and fired AIM-7 Sparrow missiles once they were 9 miles away, the report said. The American planes responded with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and began defending against the F-14s. One F-14 was downed by an AMRAAM, and the second was defeated after the American planes maneuvered close to the F-14 and shot a Sidewinder missile at it.
Pentagon officials said that the American planes returned to the USS Ronald Reagan safely. A Pentagon official said that the American pilots reported three parachutes and believed one of the F-14 pilots to be free-falling.
In a protest note to the Chernarussians, the United States said it viewed the attack by the F-14s as “unprovoked” and a matter of “grave concern”. “Any further attacks against U.S. forces operating in international water and airspace will also be resisted with force if necessary.”, the note said.
The incident is sure to increase tensions between the two countries. A White House spokesperson said that while the U.S. did not plan to increase sanctions on Chernarus, the 7th Fleet will be proportionally increasing its response to greater Chernarussian aggression in the Green Sea.
The Pentagon expressed confidence in its ability to win further battles against the Chernarussian Air Force. The F-18s used by the 7th Fleet are said to be “vastly superior” to the older F-14s and Soviet-built MiG and SU fighters in the Chernarussian arsenal. However, concern was raised over Chernarus’ acquisition of Swedish-built JAS-39s in the hands of battle-hardened Chernarussian pilots.
“Even if they are using older aircraft, we must never remain complacent,” said a Pentagon spokesperson. “But, with our battle-tested F/A-18s and brand-new F/A-181s and some of the greatest pilots to bless the Navy, I have great faith and confidence that the 7th Fleet will prevail from any fight the Chernarussians may give us.”