Recently, the U.S. Department of Defense ** said that the U.S. Navy successfully intercepted 38 drones and multiple missiles in the Red Sea for two consecutive months, but this action brought huge losses to the U.S. military.
According to reports, on December 16 alone, the US Navy destroyer USS Carney successfully intercepted 14 suicide drones. Although the US military has not announced the specific type of missile used, some experts believe that the "Standard-2" missile is the most suitable for this task. However, the price of such missiles is as high as $2.1 million each, while the Houthi drone costs $2,000.
The Houthis have created a large number of low-cost suicide drones using large quantities of civilian materials. In contrast, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers deployed by the US Navy in the Red Sea use expensive Standard-2 anti-aircraft missiles to intercept these drones, which is extremely cost-effective.
This situation has raised questions about the cost of US military arms procurement. There is no doubt that the U.S. military is far ahead of the Houthis in technology and strength, but in the face of a large number of low-cost drones, it is the high cost and inefficiency of the U.S. military that has become a problem.
Some analysts pointed out that the US military should strengthen the research and development and defense of low-cost UAVs to improve interception efficiency and reduce costs. At the same time, we should also carefully consider the cost-effectiveness of arms procurement to avoid unnecessary economic losses due to high costs.
The Houthis' use of low-cost drones to attack the US military not only poses a military threat, but also puts huge economic pressure on the US military. The U.S. Department of Defense needs to take this issue seriously, strengthen the research and development and defense of drones, and ensure the continuous improvement of military strength.
For the US military, intercepting Houthi drones is a difficult task, but it is also a valuable experience. It is believed that in future operations, the US military will continue to improve and perfect its air defense system, improve interception efficiency, and escort the country's security.