Here’s How US Army Team That Killed Osama Bin Laden Escaped Pakistani F-16s

Retired Chief Warrant Officer of US Army, Douglas Englen, who played a central role in Operation Neptune’s Spear which resulted in the US Special Operations forces gunning down Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, has said that a special US Marine Corps’ air-to-air course saved him from Pakistani F-16s during the 2011 operation.

Englen was the pilot of MH-47G Chinook which brought a team of a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) to Bin Laden’s compound after one of the two Black Hawks crashed during the operation.

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After arriving on the scene, the QRF helped in loading up Osama’s body and components of potential intelligence interest of the crashed Black Hawk.

While departing for Afghanistan, an F-16 Viper of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chased the MH-47G Chinook and attempted to engage the fleeing Chinook at least three times.

However, the US Marine Corps’ Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course, which is hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), coupled with years of special training and experience helped Englen in evading the F-16.

Here is what Englen said about the potentially devastating event.

While leaving for Afghanistan after achieving the desired result in Operation Neptune’s Spear, one of the PAF F-16 Viper fighter jets attempted to engage the MH-47G at least three times by actually launching a missile.

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Englen added:

It was as an electronic fight. A missile never left the rail. So MH-47G was able to evade the PAF F-16 Viper fighter jet electronically.

Although Englen did not disclose the type of electronic warfare systems employed to evade the F-16, it is known that an MH-47G is equipped with a radio-frequency countermeasures system and infrared and laser missile warning receivers and countermeasures.