- A Houthi missile tested a US destroyer’s Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) during an engagement, marking the closest a Houthi attack has come to an American warship.
- US Central Command confirmed that the missile was successfully shot down by the USS Gravely, with no reported damages or injuries.
- The US and UK have conducted strikes across Yemen in response to ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial vessels, with a focus on protecting vital trade routes in the Red Sea.
Additional Coverage:
- A Houthi missile got so close to a US destroyer the warship had to turn to a last resort gun system to shoot it down: report (businessinsider.com)
A Houthi missile recently tested a US destroyer’s Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) during an engagement. The CIWS is typically the last line of defense for a warship and is used for intercepts at close range. This incident is the latest Houthi missile attack, although it is not the most recent exchange of fire.
On Tuesday, a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile was fired into the Red Sea and came within one mile of a US Navy destroyer. The American warship activated its CIWS in response, which is the closest a Houthi attack has come to an American warship. According to four US officials, this information was reported by CNN and additional details of the incident were shared.
The US Central Command initially stated that the Houthis fired a single anti-ship cruise missile towards the Red Sea from Yemen around 11:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The missile was successfully shot down by the USS Gravely. There were no reported damages or injuries from the incident. When Business Insider requested further information about the missile downing, CENTCOM declined to provide additional details.
For several months, the Iran-backed rebels have been launching attack drones and missiles into key waterways off the coast of Yemen. US warships, sometimes joined by British or French forces, have successfully intercepted many of these threats. However, some commercial vessels in the region have been hit by these munitions, while no warships have been struck.
US Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are equipped with at least one CIWS, which features a close-range, radar-guided automatic 20 mm cannon capable of firing up to 4,500 rounds per minute. It has an effective range of approximately two nautical miles. Before a ship’s CIWS is engaged, interceptors like the warship’s SM-2 or SM-3 come into play. These interceptors are fired from vertical launch system cells and are designed to destroy airborne threats. Additionally, warships can use a chaff mechanism, which confuses a missile’s radar.
The incident involving the USS Gravely occurred just hours before US forces destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile in Yemen. The missile was prepared to launch and posed an imminent threat to American aircraft in the region. The US has carried out preemptive strikes this month targeting Houthi missiles, particularly those with anti-ship capabilities, to protect commercial vessels and American warships off the coast of Yemen.
In addition to these preemptive strikes, the US and UK have conducted widespread strikes across Yemen, targeting Houthi sites including missile launchers, weapons storage facilities, radars, and air-defense systems. Western officials have emphasized that these strikes are a direct response to the ongoing Houthi attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which are vital trade routes. The strikes will continue unless the rebels stop their provocations. The White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, clarified that the US is not at war with the Houthis but is taking aggressive action to defend shipping in the Red Sea.
Note: This article was based on a previous report by Business Insider.