
The Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Storm, featured fierce air combat between coalition forces and the Iraqi military. One of the most significant air victories of the conflict came when an Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat shot down a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet. This rare victory by the Iraqi Air Force over a technologically superior opponent remains a watershed moment in military aviation history. This article will look at the details of when an Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat shot down a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet, as well as other notable Iraqi Air Force kills during the Gulf War.

The Incident: January 17, 1991
On the night of January 17, 1991, during the opening hours of Operation Desert Storm, Lieutenant Commander Scott Speicher of the US Navy was flying an F/A-18 Hornet as part of a strike mission targeting Iraqi forces near Baghdad. He was unaware that Iraqi Lieutenant Colonel Zuhair Dawood, piloting a MiG-25 Foxbat, was preparing to intercept him.
Using a powerful R-40 missile, Dawood successfully engaged and destroyed Speicher’s aircraft, marking the moment when an Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat shot down a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet. Speicher’s plane crashed in the Iraqi desert, and his fate remained unknown for nearly two decades.
This shootdown marked the first American combat loss of the Gulf War, and the incident shocked the US military. Speicher’s remains were not recovered until 2009, offering closure to a tragic chapter in Gulf War history.
The MiG-25 Foxbat: A Formidable Interceptor
The Soviet Union created the MiG-25 Foxbat, a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor. The Foxbat’s remarkable speed and potent radar allowed it to remain a dangerous opponent in the Gulf War even after it was introduced in the 1970s. The interceptor proved that even older aircraft could be a significant threat to contemporary Western fighters on the fateful night that an Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat shot down a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet.
The MiG-25’s high-altitude ceiling and Mach 2.8 top speed made it ideal for intercepting high-flying bombers, but it was also deadly against fighter jets thanks to its long-range R-40 missiles. One of the most important air-to-air battles of the Gulf War was the downing of the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet by an Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat.
Other Iraqi Air Force Kills in the Gulf War
While the Gulf War was dominated by the superior technology and overwhelming numbers of the US-led coalition, there were a few instances where the Iraqi Air Force successfully engaged and downed coalition aircraft. Besides the well-known incident when an Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat shot down a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet, the Iraqi Air Force recorded several other victories:
Mirage F1 vs. Coalition Aircraft
On January 24, 1991, an Iraqi Mirage F1 achieved another rare air-to-air victory by shooting down a Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR1. During a bombing mission targeting Iraqi military installations, the Tornado engaged in combat. The Iraqi Mirage pilot successfully launched a Matra Super 530D missile, hitting and downing the RAF Tornado. This marked one of the few Iraqi victories against the coalition’s superior airpower.

MiG-29 vs. US F-15C Eagle
Although the Iraqi MiG-29 Fulcrum was generally outmatched by the coalition’s air superiority fighters, an unconfirmed report suggests that a MiG-29 scored a kill against a US Air Force F-15C Eagle. However, this engagement remains disputed, and no official record confirms the F-15C loss. Nevertheless, the presence of the MiG-29 in the skies over Iraq posed a serious challenge to coalition pilots.
Mirage F1 vs. US Navy A-6 Intruder
On January 30, 1991, another Iraqi Mirage F1 engaged a US Navy A-6 Intruder. The A-6, which was on a bombing run, was targeted and hit by an Iraqi missile. Although the A-6 crew managed to eject and survive the incident, the engagement served as another example of the limited but notable successes of the Iraqi Air Force during the conflict.

Iraqi Air Force Challenges and Defeats
Despite few victories, the Iraqi Air Force faced overwhelming challenges against the coalition. The coalition fielded advanced jets like the F-15C, F-14, and F/A-18. Iraq’s outdated fleet struggled to mount effective defence. The coalition destroyed most Iraqi aircraft on the ground or forced them to flee to Iran.
The downing of a US Navy F/A-18 by an Iraqi MiG-25 was a rare and pivotal event. Such air-to-air victories for Iraq were extremely uncommon. Iraq relied on older Soviet-made fighters like the MiG-21, MiG-23, and Mirage F1. These jets could not match the coalition’s advanced air power. Despite this technological gap, the MiG-25’s engagement with the F/A-18 proved Iraqi pilots could still make an impact.
The Fate of the MiG-25 and F/A-18
Following the Gulf War, both the MiG-25 Foxbat and F/A-18 Hornet continued to serve their respective militaries for years to come. The F/A-18 Hornet, in particular, became one of the US Navy’s most reliable multirole fighters, playing a key role in later conflicts such as the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. Despite the loss to the MiG-25, the Hornet remains a symbol of US naval aviation prowess.
Even though most air forces, including Iraq’s, eventually retired the MiG-25 Foxbat, its legacy as a high-speed interceptor remains. An Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat shooting down a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet remains one of the aircraft’s most notable combat achievements.
Conclusion
The Gulf War featured fierce air battles, with coalition forces holding clear air superiority. An Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat still managed to down a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet. This rare victory became one of the conflict’s most significant air engagements. Another Iraqi success came when a Mirage F1 shot down a Royal Air Force Tornado.
These victories showed that Iraq’s pilots could still pose a threat, even when outnumbered. The MiG-25’s kill against the F/A-18 reminds us of war’s dangers. Even advanced aircraft can fall to determined opponents in combat. For more insights on Gulf War air combat, visit Defence News Today. Join the debate and discussions at the Pakistan Defence Forum.
References
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