this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2023
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As American warships rack up kills against Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea, Pentagon officials are increasingly alarmed not just at the threat to U.S. naval forces and international shipping — but at the growing cost of keeping them safe.

U.S. Navy destroyers have shot down 38 drones and multiple missiles in the Red Sea over the past two months, according to a Defense Department official, as the Iran-backed militants have stepped up attacks on commercial vessels moving energy and oil through the world’s most vital shipping lanes. On Saturday alone, the destroyer USS Carney intercepted 14 one-way attack drones.

Houthi leaders have said the attacks are a show of support for the Palestinians, and that they won’t stop until Israel halts its operations in Gaza. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday announced a new international maritime coalition to safeguard shipping and counter the attacks.

The cost of using expensive naval missiles — which can run up to $2.1 million a shot — to destroy unsophisticated Houthi drones — estimated at a few thousand dollars each — is a growing concern, according to three other DOD officials. The officials, like others interviewed for this story, were granted anonymity to describe sensitive operations and internal deliberations.

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[–] KISSmyOS@lemmy.world 27 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Against any other foe, destroying a $2M piece of military equipment with a $2k drone would be a success.

[–] chitak166@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It's actually a really smart play. Just fight the West by making them funnel as much money to their MIC as possible. They can only keep spending 1000x as much as their opponent for so long.

[–] KISSmyOS@lemmy.world 18 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They can only keep spending 1000x as much as their opponent for so long.

We're talking about Houthi rebels vs. the USA, so that statement might be wrong.

[–] chitak166@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Feels like any of the US' wealthy enemies would have no problem funding more proxy attacks.

[–] misophist@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Shit, it'd be good money for the US weapons suppliers to fund those cheap drones that generate multimillion dollar sales for them.

[–] chitak166@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

You know, you're really onto something here.