According to new reporting from the New York Times, a Houthi surface-to-air (SAM) missile barely missed an American F-35 fifth-generation fighter, the crown jewel of the U.S. fighter inventory. The F-35, participating in Operation Rough Rider against the Houthis, was forced to take evasive action to avoid the missile.
The incident raises questions about the survivability of one of America’s most advanced fighters, and raises concerns over how effective the relatively unsophisticated Houthi air defense system has been at hampering U.S. action.
If the missile got close that means it was successfully tracking the F35 which is meant to be a stealth fighter.
Given the lack of sophisticated weapons possessed by the Houthis this calls into question the effectiveness of the F35s defences and effectiveness.
It’s stealth to radar, not infrared. It has other countermeasures for infrared missiles.
Or they are secretly being helped by another nation.