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A US Navy fighter jet pilot from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, known as the “Fighting Swordsmen,” became the first female to score an air-to-air kill while deployed against the Houthis in the Red Sea.

What’s the Deal: According to the Navy, an unnamed female pilot has become the first woman to achieve an air-to-air kill. She successfully targeted and destroyed a Houthi drone during operations in the Red Sea, flying an F/A-18F Super Hornet.

More on the Squadron: The pilot belonged to VFA-32, a squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia. This squadron has flown over 3,000 combat hours and carried out 1,500 combat missions against the Houthis. Cmdr. Jason Hoch said, “The success of the entire squadron over the past nine months is a testament to all the members of the command and their friends and family at home that support them.”

Context of the Engagement: The Houthi drone was part of ongoing attacks by the Yemen-based group targeting civilian merchant ships in the Red Sea, a strategic area for international shipping. These attacks have intensified amid the broader conflict involving the Houthis and the ongoing war in Gaza.

Some Historical Background of Female Pilots: In 1993, Maj. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt made history as the first female fighter pilot in the Air Force. The following year, in 1994, Lt. Kimberly “Face” Dyson became the first female fighter pilot to fly a combat mission.