«Данное сообщение (материал) создано и (или) распространено иностранным средством массовой информации, выполняющим функции иностранного агента, и (или) российским юридическим лицом, выполняющим функции иностранного агента»
Topic: Naval Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Asia Tags: Aircraft Carriers, Plane Crash, Salvage, South China Sea, United States, US Navy, and USS Nimitz US Navy Successfully Recovers Two Lost Aircraft in the South China Sea December 10, 2025 By: Peter Suciu
Share
The two aircraft—a F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet and an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, lost in separate crashes in October—were recovered from a depth of around 400 feet.
The United States Navy confirmed on Monday that it had “successfully recovered” the F/A-18F Super Hornet jet multirole fighter and MH-60R Seahawk helicopter that had crashed into the South China Sea in late October. Those aircraft were lost in two separate incidents just 30 minutes apart while operating from USS Nimitz (CVN-68). The pilot and weapons system officer (WSO) from the Super Hornet, and all seven crewmembers from the MH-60R, were safely rescued.
CVN-68, the US Navy’s oldest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is now on its final deployment and was returning from the Middle East, where it had operated since late summer.
Recovery Efforts Were Planned for Weeks
According to the US Navy, the recovery effort “was conducted by Commander, Task Force 73 (CTF 73); Task Force 75; the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV); and CTG 73.6’s Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit.”
The USS George Washington (CVN-73), the US Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, aided the recovery efforts last week, which were led by the Military Sealift Command’s Safeguard-class salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52). The Pentagon had gone to great lengths to recover the US Navy aircraft to ensure that China or another adversary nation wouldn’t attempt a salvage operation.
“It is normal for countries to salvage such aircraft to prevent sensitive information from falling into the hands of adversaries (China in this case),” Aerospace Global News previously reported.
The Super Hornet is hardly cutting-edge technology in 2025, more than a quarter of a century after its introduction. However, the trade publication noted that it could still help China “improve its carrier-based J-15T jets as these Chinese-improved Flanker variants are not considered as advanced as the Super Hornet.”
Moreover, Beijing could glean insight into the capabilities of the Super Hornet if they captured a downed model—even one in damaged condition.
“Acquiring an air frame and surviving systems [would] provide valuable insights into its technological strengths and how to defeat it tactically,” Carl Schuster, the former head of the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, told CNN in November. “China is now prioritizing the upgrading of its anti-submarine warfare systems. So, recovering that helicopter should enjoy a high priority.”
The Recovery Was a Professional Operation
The Super Hornet and Seahawk were “located and retrieved from a depth of approximately 400 feet,” the Navy added. The sea service also contracted a “Vessel of Opportunity” equipped with a government-owned, contractor-operated unmanned system to lift and recover the jet fighter and rotary aircraft.
“This recovery was a true Navy team effort across CTF 73, SUPSALV, Task Force 75, HSM 73, VFA 22, and our Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit,” explained Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Andersen, the CTF 73 officer who led the salvage mission.
“Everyone involved brought critical expertise ensuring we could safely and successfully bring these aircraft back under US custody,” added Andersen. “This operation highlights the importance of naval integration, readiness, and the unmatched capability of our salvage and diving teams.”
Both aircraft were reportedly being transported to a “designated US military installation in the Indo-Pacific region for detailed analysis.”
Cause of Twin Crashes Still Unknown
The crashes remain under investigation. President Donald Trump blamed “bad fuel” for the loss of the aircraft, but that has not been confirmed.
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) also denied that it had played any role in the loss of the aircraft, including electronic jamming. Still, Beijing has been critical of the US Navy’s deployments to the South China Sea, which China views as its sovereign waters.
“The US has been flexing muscles by frequently sending military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea,” Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, told reporters in October. “This is the root cause of security issues at sea and disruption to regional peace and stability.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
Image: Shutterstock / Faizinraz.
The post US Navy Successfully Recovers Two Lost Aircraft in the South China Sea appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org