UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY’s Post

The US Navy is significantly increasing its presence in the Red Sea to counter escalating threats posed by Houthi missile and drone attacks. This strategic move comes in response to the Houthis' demonstrated capabilities, which have involved recent attacks on commercial vessels in a region critical for global trade. The Navy aims to enhance maritime security and safeguard vital shipping routes that are crucial for the international economy. Recent incidents, including missile strikes on tankers and drone incursions, have raised alarms among maritime operators and international stakeholders. The U.S. Navy is deploying additional ships and advanced surveillance systems to monitor the situation closely and deter further aggression from Houthi forces. These actions not only protect commercial interests but also reassure allies in the region of America's commitment to maintaining stability. This escalation in naval operations highlights the broader implications of regional conflicts on global trade and security. By reinforcing its naval presence in the Red Sea, the U.S. is sending a strong message about its dedication to protecting international waters and supporting allies. This proactive approach is essential in a world where maritime threats can quickly escalate, impacting economies and security on a global scale. #USNavy #RedSea #MaritimeSecurity #HouthiThreat #InternationalTrade #DefenseStrategy #NavalOperations #MilitaryReadiness #GlobalSecurity #StrategicPresence #TradeRoutes #RegionalStability

This interesting Yahoo News article by describes a complex attack involving a mix of anti-ship missiles and uncrewed air systems on US Navy warships transiting the Bab al-Mandab strait. While the attack was staged by the Houthi militias out of Yemen, the real question is who planned it and what are they learning from US Navy and allied navies' responses to these attacks. The mix of weapons seems a deliberate attempt to test the capacity to react, while the volume of missiles and UAS doesn't seem designed to overwhelm the capacity of the platforms being targeted.

"Aircraft Carrier Requirements and Strategy 1977–2001", page 198: These factors, argued Hayward, mandated a Pacific use for Pacific forces, and he set his staff to the task of identifying targets for “prompt offensive action” soon after the outbreak of war. Later christened “Sea Strike,” these plans eventually took the form of a four-carrier battle group striking Soviet naval forces at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Vladivostok, and the Kuril Islands. These strikes, it was argued, "could make a strategic difference by preventing the move of Soviet Forces to Europe,” as well as influencing China and Japan to take a pro-American stance (American policymakers were unclear whether Japan would allow the U.S. military to use bases on Japanese soil for offensive operations against the Soviet Far East in the event of a European war). Relatedly, it also served the bureaucratic function of making a case for PACFLT to retain control of its peacetime assets instead of sending them to the Atlantic (the “swing strategy”), where they would potentially arrive after the key battles had already been fought. "Memorandum For All Flag Officers (And Marine General Officers, Dated SEP 16, 1970": NAVAL CAPABILITIES 1. Assured Second Strike Potential, 2. Sea Control by our attack submarines, dual-mission carriers, escorts, and patrol aircraft, 3. Projection of power ashore by our dual-mission carriers and the amphibious force, and 4. Overseas presence in peacetime If the Soviets challenge us at sea, either as an adjunct to conflict on land or in a war restricted to the sea, we will have, in my judgment, a 55% chance of defeating them with our present forces. The forces at the POM-72 level, even after optimization, reduce my confidence of success to about 30%. The U.S. may thus be unable to support or hold together the Free World alliance in the face of a conflict with the Soviets at sea.

In a recent maritime training exercise in the waters of the East China Sea, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) demonstrated the operational capabilities of its Type 22 (NATO designation: Houbei class) missile boats. These fast attack vessels, notable for their wave-piercing catamaran hulls and stealth features, were observed maneuvering in formation, underscoring their strategic role in China’s coastal defense strategy. Launched in April 2004 by the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, the Type 22 missile boat has quickly become a cornerstone of the PLAN’s littoral warfare tactics. The deployment of Type 22 missile boats in the East China Sea exercises sends a clear signal about China’s maritime strategy. These vessels are designed to patrol coastal areas and assert control over disputed waters, reflecting China’s broader strategic goals in the region. The Type 22’s design is based on Australian wave-piercing catamaran hulls, providing enhanced stability and speed in high sea conditions—a critical advantage over traditional monohull designs. The boats are equipped with advanced stealth features, including a polygonal-designed superstructure and angled gun mounts that reduce radar cross-section. However, the use of aluminum in their construction, along with visible deck clutter such as rails and launchers, means they are not fully stealth. Synthetic aperture radar from satellites can still detect them, indicating a trade-off between stealth and practicality. With 82 boats currently in service, these vessels are organized into three flotillas, each comprising squadrons of eight boats. Their combination of speed, firepower, and advanced technology makes them a versatile and potent component of the PLAN’s littoral combat forces. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gBb7bzMt

The Royal Navy’s maritime attack helicopters will soon pack an even bigger punch after a milestone firing of a new missile designed to destroy enemy warships and attack craft. The Wildcat HMA Mk2 can already fire Sting Ray torpedoes for hitting underwater threats and lightweight Marlet missiles for taking out boat swarms or small ships. But, so far, the Wildcats have not been able to target larger warships, like corvettes. The Royal Navy has now completed the first guided firing of the anti-ship Sea Venom missile – which packs ten times the punch of Martlet, with the design of destroying more heavily armoured ships – on a target vessel at the Aberporth range in Wales. The target vessel was designed and built by QinetiQ engineers, made of three containers atop a barge. Each container wall had multiple individually controlled heating elements to simulate a target more accurately. The firing marks a significant milestone in the integration of Sea Venom onto Wildcat, which will add to the potent array of weaponry protecting Royal Navy warships, namely the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gqUSkibs

Admiral: Red Sea Crisis Highlights Need for Affordable Air Defense 🚢✈️🛡️ An admiral has emphasized the necessity for low-cost air defense systems in light of recent maritime crises in the Red Sea. This statement underscores the growing concerns over regional security and the protection of maritime assets. Investing in affordable and effective air defense could be crucial in mitigating threats and ensuring the safety of navigation in geopolitically sensitive areas. #MaritimeSecurity #RedSea #AirDefense #Military #RegionalStability 🔗 Admiral: Red Sea crisis shows need for low-cost air defense https://lnkd.in/eiWqgNpk

US Navy warships fought off a 'complex' missile and drone attack in the Red Sea The US Navy isn't the only force trying to shoot Houthi missiles and drones out of the sky. The French navy is among other allied forces working to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea. Last week, a French frigate shot down at least three Houthi ballistic missiles. Warships of the French navy are among other Western navies in the Red Sea working to protect commercial shipping vessels from Houthi attacks. Last week, a French frigate shot down at least three Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles in a combat engagement between Western forces and the Iran-backed militant group. https://lnkd.in/gNR7x-g5

Admiral: Red Sea Crisis Highlights Need for Affordable Air Defense 🚢✈️🛡️ An admiral has emphasized the necessity for low-cost air defense systems in light of recent maritime crises in the Red Sea. This statement underscores the growing concerns over regional security and the protection of maritime assets. Investing in affordable and effective air defense could be crucial in mitigating threats and ensuring the safety of navigation in geopolitically sensitive areas. #MaritimeSecurity #RedSea #AirDefense #Military #RegionalStability 🔗 Admiral: Red Sea crisis shows need for low-cost air defense https://lnkd.in/e922JPVj

Houthis’ lesson for the US Army: how a land force can fight a maritime war 8 Nov 2024 | Andrew Rolander The US Army should consider borrowing a page from the playbook of Yemen’s Houthi militants. The character of war is always changing, and the Houthis’ ongoing attacks against shipping in the Red Sea may prove to be one of the more significant inflection points in military history. The change involves sea control and sea denial through the application of long-range precision missile fire and autonomous drone employment from the shore. The Houthis effectively blend a mix of anti-ship ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and one-way attack drones to contest control over maritime lines of communication in the Red Sea littoral. They have so far damaged at least 30 merchant ships, sunk two and killed or detained several merchant sailors. The US Army should aim for much the same capability in a contested littoral environment against an adversary such as China. Technically and tactically, the service is moving in this direction, but it needs to fully embrace the strategy to avoid becoming largely irrelevant in the major war in which the US is most likely to become involved. Army heavy formations almost certainly won’t be available in the initial fighting in a Western Pacific war. The army can draw on efforts that are already underway in the US military. It can, for example, take inspiration from the US Navy’s Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) concept, in which ships are widely separated but act in unison. Army units might operate similarly in the Western Pacific. The navy is developing DMO for forces that find themselves in combat against an adversary, such as China, that can detect, track and attack US and allied assets at great distances with a variety of different weapon systems. The army’s own Typhon or Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) program, in which it is fielding its Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs) and navy SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles for strike missions, should contribute, as should research into drone technology by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In a maritime war in the Western Pacific, the army would likely have to operate on distant island bases and attack shipping in much the same way the Houthis are doing from the interior of Yemen. Geographic dispersal will be a vital aspect of survivability in the next war.

Admiral: Red Sea Crisis Highlights Need for Affordable Air Defense 🚢✈️🛡️ An admiral has emphasized the necessity for low-cost air defense systems in light of recent maritime crises in the Red Sea. This statement underscores the growing concerns over regional security and the protection of maritime assets. Investing in affordable and effective air defense could be crucial in mitigating threats and ensuring the safety of navigation in geopolitically sensitive areas. #MaritimeSecurity #RedSea #AirDefense #Military #RegionalStability 🔗 Admiral: Red Sea crisis shows need for low-cost air defense https://lnkd.in/eiWqgNpk