On January 17, 1991, Lt. Cmdr. Mark “MRT” Fox launched from the USS Saratoga in his F/A-18 Hornet, just hours into the opening strikes of Operation Desert Storm. What started as a strike mission to strike Iraq’s H-3 airfield turned into a high-stakes air-to-air duel. Fox would fire both an AIM-9 Sidewinder and an AIM-7 Sparrow missile, ultimately scoring the first aerial victory in F/A-18 Hornet history by downing a MiG-21. Admiral Mark Fox Ep 1: https://youtu.be/30IOTrkOoKA?si=y9wmHh3MLvqwfIyS

F/A-18 Pilot vs. MiG-23: Vice Admiral Mark "MRT" Fox recounts his experience of surprising a Libyan fighter jet during the intense Omar Gaddafi era operations over Libya. Admiral Fox, who scored the first-ever F/A-18 aerial victory during Desert Storm, discusses the high-stakes rules of engagement (ROE) and the tactics used to establish air superiority over the "Line of Death." This clip is a masterclass in naval aviation, tactical deception, and real-world air combat strategy. WATCH THE FULL EP