What Is the US’s New Naval Strategy to Offset Defeat Against Yemen?
The experience of Yemen in the Red Sea has become a global testing ground for asymmetric warfare, demonstrating how inexpensive precision drones adn missiles can effectively challenge even the most technologically advanced military forces, according to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar newspaper.
This advancement began in late 2023 amidst confrontations involving a U.S.-European-Israeli coalition. Western parties realized they were facing a new dynamic that differs substantially from established military doctrines since World War II. Senior American officials acknowledged that utilizing simple, low-cost tools could confuse massive naval fleets and impose heavy financial burdens on them.
The article notes this reality has compelled major powers-including the United states and China-to rethink their military strategies. Washington understands that aircraft carriers and other large naval assets no longer offer sufficient deterrence against asymmetric adversaries like the Ansar Allah movement.
China,drawing lessons from Yemen’s conflict,recognized investment in drones and unmanned maritime vehicles as key to countering America’s traditional naval superiority. Defense One magazine reports that the U.S. Department of defense has created a new 12-member offensive unit specializing in deploying attack drones. This unit is based at the Quantico base in Virginia.
This move signifies America’s response to its failures in the Red Sea and includes experiments developing aircraft operated via radio frequencies.
Al-Akhbar adds that recent Yemeni warfare marked a basic shift in U.S. naval strategy by revealing how irregular forces armed with drones and boats can disrupt classical power balances at minimal cost. Washington also recognized that traditional missile responses-expensive and limited-are insufficient on their own; they must be paired with emerging technologies.
In this context, Washington announced ambitious programs such as “Replicator,” an initiative by the Pentagon aimed at mass-producing low-cost drones and robotic systems to accelerate unmanned weapons deployment. This program sets future objectives for addressing declared maritime challenges.
Accordingly, late in 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense began an initial $500 million procurement phase for various sizes of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ships, drone warning systems, and defensive measures against UAV threats-with another $500 million planned for fiscal year 2025. The goal is to close tactical gaps exposed by asymmetric conflicts.
The U.S. Navy plans to produce swarms of ship-launched aircraft and airborne mines as cost-effective defensive layers against unfriendly unmanned attackers.
this situation indicates increased confrontations are likely ahead on international waters; it remains to be seen whether america’s adopted strategies will enable it to effectively counter Yemen’s maritime tactics.
