A U.S. military F/A-18F fighter jet has a submarine silhouette mark on its nose, suggesting it was involved in destroying an Iranian submarine.

The U.S. Navy F/A-18F "Super Hornet" landed at the Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The silhouette of a submarine and the words "Sub Buster" were visible on the nose. (Taken from Jeff Rojas)

Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] The nose of a fighter jet usually bears marks for downing enemy aircraft or destroying ground targets. However, a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet that just returned from the Middle East has a rare submarine silhouette and the words "Sub Buster" on its nose, indicating that the aircraft participated in the destruction of an unnamed Iranian submarine.

The military aviation website "The Aviationist" reported that this F/A-18F two-seat fighter aircraft number "168491" belongs to the US Navy's 41st Combat Attack Squadron (VFA-41 "Ace of Spades"). It was previously deployed to the Middle East with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to participate in the US military's "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran. It returned to Naval Air Station Lemoore (NAS Lemoore) in California on October 1.

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The report pointed out that even in a total war, the destruction of a submarine is a very rare result. This may be the first time since the "Super Hornet" entered service that such a submarine kill mark has appeared. The nose pattern shows that the aircraft participated in the destruction of an unnamed Iranian submarine, but there is currently no information to confirm the identity of the specific submarine that was destroyed.

Judging from the silhouette appearance, "The Aviationist" believes that this mark is closest to the Russian-made "Kilo-class" diesel-electric submarine. The US military has previously confirmed that the Iranian Navy's Kilo-class "Taregh" deployed in the port was destroyed, but the report emphasized that the marking of this F/A-18F cannot be directly equated with the "Taregh".

How does this fighter plane attack submarines?

The reason why this marking is rare is that the F/A-18F is not an anti-submarine aircraft and is not equipped with sonobuoys or air-dropped anti-submarine torpedoes. Therefore, it is currently impossible to confirm what kind of weapons this fighter aircraft uses to attack submarines. Submarines are relatively fragile when not submerged. If the pressure-resistant shell is damaged by ammunition while docked in a port or on the surface, the submarine may be permanently or permanently unusable.

In related operations, the US military has also used unmanned surface craft and Army land-based long-range missiles to attack submarines in the harbor. As for the type of ammunition used by the F/A-18F at the time, and the specific identities of the submarines involved in the destruction, the United States has not announced yet.