A friendly fire incident involving the USS Gettysburg has raised concerns over the U.S. Navy’s readiness. On Dec. 22, the guided missile cruiser mistakenly identified a U.S. F/A-18F Super Hornet as an enemy target during operations in the Red Sea, launching an SM-2 missile that destroyed the aircraft.
The two aviators onboard ejected before impact and were recovered safely, with one sustaining minor injuries. Moments later, the Gettysburg fired a second missile, which narrowly missed another U.S. jet and exploded over the water.
BREAKING NEWS! D.E.I ship USS Gettysburg fired upon second US fighter jet the same night it shot down another. USS Gettysburg under investigation. pic.twitter.com/K3u5ptebuE
— B. Wilkins lll 🇺🇸 𓃠 (@ScummyMummy511) December 30, 2024
The Gettysburg’s recent modernization efforts have come under scrutiny. After being out of service since 2015, the ship underwent extensive upgrades, completing them in early 2023. A Government Accountability Office report revealed serious quality control issues during the $1.9 billion program, which faced over 15 years of delays.
An F18 can cost between $50 and $120 Million and apparently the USS Gettysburg just “accidentally” shot one down! The pilots are ok. Somebody shot it down and is my opinion that they don’t want to start WW3 over it and so are claiming friendly fire.
— Lagrange5 (@Langrange5) January 2, 2025
USS Gettysburg “accidentally” shoots down a US warplane. Grotesque incompetence or a cover up to avoid going to war? https://t.co/V2mXWa3Nth
— Lagrange5 (@Langrange5) January 2, 2025
Navy pilots have expressed frustration, citing insufficient training aboard the Gettysburg. The ship is one of the Navy’s few air defense cruisers tasked with protecting carrier strike groups, heightening concerns about its combat readiness.
Crashed ? You mean shot down by a SM-2 missile fired from the USS Gettysburg (CG 64).
A testament of the effectiveness of the ejection seat system. 👍 pic.twitter.com/J6SLxKinc6— Pascal D. Muyovu (@kirkjamestkirk) January 2, 2025
The friendly fire incident also raises questions about the ship’s combat systems. The GAO noted propulsion and electrical issues prior to deployment, and even after sea trials, some weapons systems were reported inoperable.
USS Gettysburg firing on two friendlies really a mistake?
— Neonidas 🇺🇸 AMERICA FIRST (@InTheMatrix1776) January 2, 2025
The Navy has not confirmed whether the Gettysburg conducted further live-fire tests after mid-2024. The investigation is ongoing, but the incident underscores the need for improvements in modernization efforts and crew preparation.
Wonder how many of our jets the USS Gettysburg will attempt to shoot down today?
— 🍊Ultra MAGA🍊 (@imcmoser) December 31, 2024
