The US Navy has been fighting anti-ship ballistic missiles, which were only recently used for the first time in real combat.
Business Insider recently interviewed a destroyer that had shot down some of the Houthi missiles.
US Navy warships off the coast of Yemen have been fighting against anti-ship ballistic missiles of the Houthis, a dangerous ** that until recently was used in real combat.
These could become a major threat in potential future conflicts, especially in the Western Pacific with China. Navy commanders say the U.S. military is learning from recent Middle East battles and gaining valuable intelligence from these engagements.
An aircraft carrier strike group commander told Business Insider during a visit to the Red Sea this week:"This is the first time that a ballistic missile has been launched at sea traffic at or next to **. This gives us a lot of information"。
The Houthis began using anti-ship ballistic missiles at the end of last year, as well as anti-ship cruise missiles and one-way attack drones. As Joe Biden said, it is"Historically"Use these for the first time**. The use of these missiles further complicates the threat environment.
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have fired dozens of anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, sometimes even attacking merchant ships.
Last month, the flag of the Marshall Islands, owned by Bermuda, was hoisted"Marin Luanda"The merchant ship was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden.
These repeated provocations drew the Navy's resentment and forced it to respond. Over the past two months, U.S. ships operating in the region have shot down a number of anti-ship ballistic missiles, most recently in early February. The United States also carried out a preemptive strike on Yemen before the missiles were launched.
Business Insider recently visited the U.S. Navy"Gravley"The destroyer, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the Red Sea, has been on the front lines of these operations and has shot down several Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles.
The ship's commander, Lieutenant Commander Brian Sanchez, praised his sailors"Perseverance", and said they had been trained for months to prepare for such engagements.
In an interview with Business Insider, he said:"Now that we're here, that's what we're training for. It may be the first time we've seen this, but it's not new because we've been trained on these repetitions"。
Sanchez said the data collected by his warship is transmitted back to the United States, which analyzes the performance of the ** system in order to make improvements or adjustments to technology and tactics. He praised his sailors for their ability to respond to these engagements in a well-trained manner.
The lieutenant colonel said of his sailors:"They did a very good job of reacting the way we expected them and then going back to work right away to make sure the ship continued to be ready for the next engagement."
The Gravley is part of the Navy's Second Carrier Strike Group, which consists of the USS Dwight-Eisenhower, four destroyers, and a cruiser. Rear Admiral Mark Miguez, commander of the carrier strike group, said he had received feedback from some of the data sent back to the United States, including the performance of the carrier's ** system"Exactly as expected"。
He told Business Insider during a visit to the Ike this week"We do have some new capabilities that have been put into use over the last few years that have given a huge advantage in basically defeating the ballistic missile threat."
The Houthi rebels have a sizable arsenal of anti-ship ballistic missiles, some of which come from Iran, while others are only parts supplied by Tehran, according to an analysis published in early January. The US ** command called attention to the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles, however, did not specify which missiles were used in any of the attacks.
Long before the Houthis began attacking international shipping lanes with anti-ship ballistic missiles, these became a growing concern for the United States, as China's anti-ship ballistic missile arsenal grew across the Pacific and tensions were rising.
If Washington and China go to war at some point in the future, the maritime domain is likely to become a key battleground, so anti-ship ballistic missile capabilities and defense systems designed to defeat them become important considerations.
According to experts, the Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles cannot be compared with China's arsenal, which is much more complex, especially in terms of guidance technology, and is constantly expanding. China has invested heavily in the development of its rocket force, and has even built a model of a US naval boat, which is said to be used for target training. China also has a variety of sensors, such as radar and satellites, that can be used to guide missiles.
Despite possible differences in the threat environment and capabilities in the Middle East and the Western Pacific, any anti-ship ballistic missile can cause catastrophic damage, and both current and former military officers believe that the Navy has gained extremely valuable experience through regular engagements with the Houthis and is somewhat assured.
Commander of Carrier Strike Group 2 Miguez said:"We don't really like to be hit, but it's a great opportunity to demonstrate that the systems we buy, fight, and train do work when asked. "
Jack Epstein, Business Insider, February 17