The USS Gettyburg cruiser appears to have used an SM-2 missile that costs more than $2 million in the shooting down of an F/A-18F fighter jet over the Red Sea.

The Washington Post on December 22 quoted an anonymous US defense official as saying that the cruiser USS Gettysburg “launched an SM-2 anti-aircraft missile” in the accidental shooting down of an F/A-18F multi-role fighter assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea on the same day.

This is the first time information has emerged about the type of weapon used in the incident. US officials declined to disclose further information, but said the US Navy is considering the possibility of recovering the wreckage.

US warship launches SM-2 missile during exercise in July 2012. Photo: US Navy

The USS Gettysburg is equipped with the SM-2MR Block IIIB variant, capable of hitting targets at a distance of 170 km, and the SM-2ER Block IV model with a maximum range of 370 km and a ceiling of over 24 km.

The SM-2 is a medium-range air defense missile developed by the US in the 1970s and first deployed in 1978, equipped with a semi-active radar seeker and a fragmentation warhead. It is the central weapon in the Aegis defense system deployed on US and allied warships, and is one of the most advanced air defense missiles in the US Navy.

The SM-2MR Block IIIB version is equipped with a dual seeker guided by infrared signals and semi-active radar, significantly improving maneuverability and ability to deal with low-flying targets. The missile entered service in 1998, undergoing feature upgrades in the period 2006-2007.

USS Gettysburg moves in the Mediterranean Sea on December 15. Photo: US Navy

Meanwhile, the SM-2ER Block IV, which achieved initial combat readiness in 1999, was developed to fill the gap in long-range air defense on warships equipped with the Aegis shield. This type of missile is equipped with a seeker capable of tracking fast-flying targets with a small radar cross-section, along with a control and guidance system that can operate in environments with strong jamming.

Each SM-2 missile typically costs $2.1-2.4 million, depending on the version.

Ticonderoga-class cruisers like the USS Gettysburg typically serve as the air defense command post for aircraft carrier groups. The circumstances and cause of the accidental fire are unclear, especially since the USS Gettysburg and the F/A-18F fighter jet were both part of the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier strike group.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM), the unit in charge of US military operations in the Middle East, previously said that the cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18F multi-role fighter jet on a mission in the Red Sea, forcing two crew members to eject.

“Both crew members were safely evacuated. The aircraft was not shot down by enemy fire and we are conducting a full investigation,” CENTCOM said.

Houthi-controlled area. Graphic: AFP

The US, its allies and the European Union (EU) have set up separate task forces to respond to the Houthi attacks on cargo ships. Washington and London have also repeatedly attacked Houthi targets in retaliation or to prevent attacks on cargo ships.

However, military experts have questioned the effectiveness and ability to maintain the US-UK campaign, as there are no signs that the Houthis will stop attacking cargo ships through the Red Sea.