Скачать или смотреть When a “Civilian” Jet Killed 37 U.S. Sailors | The USS Stark Shock (1987)

On May 17, 1987, during tensions in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy frigate USS Stark was struck by two Exocet missiles launched from a modified Iraqi Falcon 50 business jet—an aircraft that outwardly appeared civilian. The first missile failed to detonate, but the second exploded inside the ship, killing 37 American sailors and severely damaging the vessel. It remains one of the deadliest single incidents involving the U.S. Navy since World War II.

The attack shocked Washington and naval planners worldwide. It was one of the few times Iraqi forces successfully hit a U.S. warship, exposing a dangerous blind spot in modern naval warfare: the weaponization of non-traditional platforms. The incident revealed how commercial or civilian-looking aircraft, when armed, could bypass assumptions, delay reactions, and inflict catastrophic damage—even against a technologically superior navy.

Decades later, the USS Stark incident is still studied as a warning. It reshaped U.S. Navy rules of engagement, air-defense posture, and threat recognition doctrine, proving that in modern conflicts, danger doesn’t always arrive in uniform—or on radar the way commanders expect.


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This video is for educational and historical analysis purposes only. It does not glorify violence or promote any political ideology. Events are summarized based on publicly available historical records. Viewer discretion advised.