"We Ran Out Of Missiles": US Fighter Pilots Recall Iran's Attack On Israel

US F-15 fighter pilots tested by Iranian drone attack against Israel with minimal resources

Iran's April 2024 attack on Israel caught US forces flatfooted, testing the mettle of fighter pilots and their resourcefulness in a high-stakes combat situation. Iran had launched over 300 drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles in waves, flooding air defenses and engaging all major US military assets in what appears to be a serious test. US. Air Force pilots, like Major Benjamin "Irish" Coffey and Captain Lacie "Sonic" Hester, spoke of the events of the night as they were battling for Israel in the face of weapon supplies running dry and severe weather.

Unusual Attack Size

The Iranian attack, which Iranian forces staged as a response to an Israeli rocket attack on an Iranian consulate in Syria, came bigger than the U.S. military had anticipated. Such large incoming fire overwhelmed the forces of the United States to the point of mere reactivity, and pilots found themselves engaged in a protracted action without any time to prepare properly. "We had no idea what could happen," reflected Captain Hester on the brief, reckless briefing before the mission. With the sheer scale of the attack – a mix of drones and missiles – a new phase of warfare had finally opened, in which drone use increased dramatically.

Running Out of Missiles

Major Coffey and Captain Hester's mission was out of the high-tech defense operation, fast turning into a gritty battle for survival. F-15E Strike Eagles, multi-role combat aircraft, held only eight air-to-air missiles. 20 minutes into their attack on Iranian targets was all they had left. The situation had to change right now. "We ran out of missiles pretty quickly. 20 minutes maybe," Lieutenant Colonel Curtis "Voodoo" Culver said. Having used up their entire arsenal of missiles, with no alternative but to revert to gun practice-a highly hazardous manuevre in itself-the pilots struggled against the already ferocious surroundings.

Close-Range Combat Risks

Conserving Ammunition and Effectiveness
Major Coffey and Captain Hester started a high-risk strategy to save the armament and thus maintain effectiveness. They flew hazardously close to Iranian drones, falling below the minimum safe altitude for an F-15 Strike Eagle in order to line up a shot with their guns. The pilots operated in near-total darkness-a situation that amplified the risk of collision with the terrain. Despite their best efforts, their first attempt at shooting down the drones was not successful. "You feel the ground rush, you feel yourself getting closer and closer to the ground. The risk was just too high to try again," said Major Coffey, reemphasizing the gravity of the situation.

The Battle in the Sky and on the Ground

Though on nearly depleted ammunition, the U.S. air and naval forces reportedly intercepted 70 drones and three ballistic missiles, thus achieving a big chunk of the attack. It became the first "real test" for the U.S. Air Force against large-scale, extended aerial drone attacks. When multiple hours were spent airborne, its threat management capabilities were tested as never before.

At the same time, a full-scale melee erupted at an American military facility in the Middle East, as Iranian missiles and drones had already been picked off by air defenses in the airspace. Troops were hastened to bunkers as air defenses knocked down additional incoming threats. A combination of airwar along with ground preparedness became vital before a much greater disaster could have been prevented.

Lessons to be learned and the Rising Threat from Drones

Lieutenants including Lieutenant Colonel Timothy "Diesel" Causey, an F-15 pilot, said the dangers posed by the unmanned aerial vehicles were what they called a "low-cost, low-risk" threat to the enemy. The increasing sophistication and affordability of drones present modern challenges for defense forces around the world.

It also took advantage of the flaws of a conventional air-to-air missile system, easily consumed when confronted with a sheer volume of incoming threats. It is indeed increasingly apparent that there is likely to be a necessity for even more responsive, sustaining defensive systems against drone warfare as this tactic continues to evolve.
Conclusion
The Iranian attack on Israel proved a potent test for the U.S. Thus, it exposed the hurdles in modern drone warfare and has further evidenced the ingenuity of the pilots in extremely high-tension scenarios. Even though the attackers managed to be defeated, the scenario has underlined the urgency for better preparedness in counter-drone capabilities as well as further anticipation of such high-intensity, multifaceted engagement. It is sure to influence future military strategies as drones move to redefine the battlefield.