The Current Situation of US Warships Intercepting Houthi Drones in the Red Sea

American warships in the Red Sea have been engaged in combat with an increasing amount of weapons launched by Houthi forces in Yemen, including a recent incident where a US destroyer intercepted over a dozen drones. Tensions between the US and the Houthis, who claim to be targeting Israeli-bound commercial vessels in response to Israel's actions in Gaza, may escalate following Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's announcement on Monday of a new US-led operation aimed at safeguarding merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Recent US naval activities and the introduction of a new US protection initiative prompted CNN to seek insights from naval experts on how warships are navigating threats and potential future challenges. Although the US Navy has not disclosed the weapon systems being utilized against Houthi attacks, experts have noted that US destroyers have a variety of weapons systems available for use.

The experts mentioned that the US ships are equipped with surface-to-air missiles, explosive shells from the 5-inch main gun of the destroyers, and close-in weapons systems. Additionally, they highlighted the electronic warfare capabilities of the US ships that could potentially disrupt the communication between drones and their on-shore controllers.

According to the experts, the captains of US destroyers are confronted with decisions on cost, inventory, and effectiveness as the mission expands.

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John Bradford, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, explained that the drones can be targeted with cheaper missiles or ship guns due to their slower speed. However, intercepting faster missiles requires the use of more advanced interceptor missiles.

Iran-backed Houthi forces have initiated multiple assaults targeting US interests and Israel in the region following the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7. Concerns persist that the Israel-Hamas conflict could escalate further, causing unrest throughout the area.

The group has declared that any vessel en route to Israel is a valid target, exerting pressure on Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza. They have executed numerous drone and missile strikes on commercial ships, and even attempted to deploy commandos via helicopter to hijack a vessel.

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BP becomes latest company to temporarily suspend shipping due to Red Sea attacks

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Major container shipping companies around the world have halted navigation through a major trade route, a move that experts believe could cause disruptions in supply chains and lead to an increase in freight expenses. MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd have all announced that they will be steering clear of the Suez Canal due to safety issues. The decision has also prompted BP to follow suit, causing oil and gas prices to spike on Monday.

US Navys main asset – the guided-missile destroyer

Following the recent attacks, the US Navy has announced its intention to provide assistance to commercial shipping vessels in distress.

One of the primary US assets deployed to address the attacks on shipping in the Red Sea is the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, such as the USS Carney, which successfully intercepted 14 Houthi drones last Saturday. Equipped with a variety of missiles, including the advanced Standard Missile-6 (SM-6), these destroyers are capable of intercepting high altitude ballistic missiles, lower trajectory missiles, and engaging other ships at a maximum range of 370 kilometers. The cost of each SM-6 missile exceeds $4 million, as reported by the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

On July 17, 2021, the USS Mason (DDG 87), a guided-missile destroyer, is seen steaming away from the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188) after completing an underway replenishment-at-sea in the Atlantic Ocean. The USNS Joshua Humphreys was standing watch as the Military Sealift Command Atlantic Duty Oiler, providing logistic support for U.S. Navy ships operating in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Bill Mesta/released)

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- According to the CSIS, the Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) has a range of 185 to 370 kilometers, depending on the version, and is considered less advanced than the SM-6. The cost of each SM-2 is approximately $2.5 million.

- The CSIS also notes that the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) is designed to target anti-ship cruise missiles and slower threats such as drones or helicopters, with a range of up to 50 kilometers. The cost of each ESSM is over $1 million.

Experts think the US is using the SM-2 and/or ESSM missiles against the Houthi threats so far.

Pricey munitions and the cost-benefit ratio

As the experts point out, the US could be stretched thin by a prolonged campaign against drones that are mass-produced and deployed for less than $100,000 each. Alessio Patalano, a professor at Kings College in London, notes that the cost of intercepting these advanced air capabilities is around $2 million, making it not cost-effective to counter the drones.

The experts point out that Houthi forces are backed and trained by Iran, providing them with the resources for a prolonged conflict.

Furthermore, the experts questioned how far the US is willing to go to safeguard merchant shipping.

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A former US Navy captain and former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center in Hawaii, Carl Schuster, stated that the Phalanx close-in weapons system on US destroyers, equipped with Gatling guns capable of firing up to 4,500 rounds per minute, is able to handle drone or missile threats within a mile of the warship. This defense system is relatively low-cost but crucial as it serves as the last line of defense, and any miss could potentially result in the loss of US lives.

Defense of warships vs. protection of merchants

The Phalanx system is unable to protect merchant ships that the US destroyer is tasked with overseeing, even though it is sailing miles away from the warship.

According to Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow for sea power at the Royal United Services Institute in London, vessels primarily depend on anti-air missiles to provide wide area air defense rather than self-protection.

Kaushal explained that US warships are equipped with vertical launch system (VLS) cells on their decks, from which anti-aircraft interceptor missiles can be fired. Each cell has the capability to hold a variety of armaments, although the specific quantities are classified. However, Kaushal noted that there is a finite number of missiles aboard each vessel.

According to Salvatore Mercogliano, a naval expert and professor at Campbell University in North Carolina, if the Houthis are able to repeatedly attack a ship and deplete its inventories, the warship may face a shortage of munitions needed to protect the merchant vessels under its watch.

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According to CNN, although the navies are capable of dealing with the current threats from the Houthi, there is concern that they may not be able to sustain a sufficient defense to protect commercial shipping if the attacks escalate in scope and scale.

The Houthis have not attempted a genuine drone swarm attack, like the ones repeatedly used by Russia in Ukraine, which could involve dozens of simultaneous threats, according to experts.

He mentioned that US warships in the region are also figuring out how to restock their missile inventory, adding that the only option for reloading weapons is at the US base in Djibouti, which is located near the conflict zone.

US looks for allied help

Patalano said the US-led operation to expand the number of warships protecting merchant vessels will help defensive efforts.

During a virtual ministerial meeting on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Austin spoke about the seriousness of the reckless Houthi attacks and emphasized the need for a strong international response. He highlighted that these attacks pose a threat to the free flow of commerce and put innocent mariners in danger, stating that they must be stopped.

The day before, Austin revealed the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea. This multinational operation involves the participation of the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.

Possible threats in an evolving battlespace

While increased allied cooperation could help, the experts said deployment of anti-ship cruise or ballistic missiles could present a new challenge.

Mercogliano stated that anti-ship cruise missiles have the capability to approach ships at a low altitude and breach the hull above the waterline, citing their use in sinking British ships during the Falklands War and striking the USS Stark in 1987. Moreover, he warned that ballistic missiles could pose an even greater threat.

He stated that the terminal velocity of the weapon and its payload could cause significant harm to a warship or commercial vessel, and might require the use of top US interceptors, such as the SM-6, to intercept and destroy it.

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Mercogliano noted that the battlespace is constantly evolving and the Houthis will undoubtedly have a response to the deployment of naval forces. "The Houthis are closely monitoring the situation and observing the reactions of naval forces to these attacks," he added.