Two California Highway Patrol Officers were conducting speeding nforcement on I-15, North of MCAS Miramar. One of the officers was using a hand held radar device to check speeding vehicles approaching near the crest of a hill.
The officers were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began reading 300
miles per hour. The officer attempted to reset the radar gun, but it would
not reset and turned off.
Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in
fact locked onto a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low flying
exercise near the location.
Back at the CHP Headquarters the Patrol Captain fired off a complaint to the
USMC Base Commander.
Back came a reply in true USMC style:
Thank you for the message, which allows us to complete the file on this
incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the
Hornet had detected the presence of, and subsequently
hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it.
Furthermore, an air to ground missile aboard the fully armed aircraft had
also automatically locked onto your equipment.
Fortunately the Marine Pilot flying the Hornet recognized the situation
for what it was, quickly responded to the missile system alert status and
was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was
launched and your hostile radar was destroyed.
Thank you for your concerns.
"Life Is Like A Jar Of Jalapenos - What You Do Today, Might Burn Your Ass
Tomorrow"