NYN | News
U.S. Naval Operations Commander Admiral James Kilby admitted that American forces are facing significant challenges in finding cost-effective solutions to counter the threats posed by Sanaa forces in the Red Sea. He also acknowledged a severe shortage of the expensive munitions that the U.S. Navy primarily relies on.
In a report published by Fox News on Tuesday, Admiral Kilby was quoted as saying that the U.S. Navy depends on costly missiles to counter Houthi attacks in the Red Sea—an approach he described as a financial burden.
Speaking at the “Sea-Air-Space” conference, Kilby expressed concern over the lack of more economical options to confront the Houthi threat.
According to the report, Kilby also admitted that during his previous role as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, he had focused on developing advanced laser weapons. However, he now believes it may have been more prudent to concentrate on more effective and lower-cost methods to deal with drone threats, suggesting that a less powerful system could have done the job.
He indicated that the U.S. Navy is currently working to update its defensive tactics by adopting more cost-effective technologies to counter unmanned vehicles in the Red Sea. He added that the defense sector needs to accelerate the production of the required munitions for such operations.
Regarding munitions availability for countering the Houthi threat, Kilby stressed that the Navy needs deeper stockpiles, saying, “If we’re going to be in a prolonged conflict, we need more ammunition.”
He noted that attention must be given to strengthening the munitions manufacturing base in the same way that shipbuilding has been prioritized.
The report also highlighted growing criticism toward the U.S. over the costs of operations against the Houthis (Ansar Allah), pointing out that the Navy has used high-cost naval missiles—each worth around $2 million—to shoot down drones that cost the Houthis as little as $2,000.
