US Navy's billion-dollar missile blitz fails to secure Red Sea
The total cost of the anti-aircraft missiles fired by the US Navy during Operation Prosperity Guardian certainly exceeded a billion dollars. Meanwhile, the achieved effect is not particularly impressive, as the threat to maritime transport persists.
US Navy ships deployed in the Red Sea have fired nearly 400 different missiles in the fight against the Iran-supported Houthi rebels over the past 15 months. The list obtained by the portal The Warzone includes 120 SM-2 missiles, 80 SM-6 missiles, 160 Mark 45 naval gun shells with a calibre of 5 inches, and 20 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) and SM-3 missiles. Their total cost certainly exceeds a billion dollars.
Expenses were disclosed by Vice Admiral Brendan McLane, the head of Naval Surface Forces, during the annual Surface Navy Association conference held on 14 January 2025. Altogether, naval ships, aircraft, and submarines have clashed with over 400 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis since October 2023.
McLane states that SM-2 missiles, with a range of up to 90 nautical miles and an altitude of up to 19,800 metres, are the primary defensive measure for the US Navy against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. To defend against ballistic missiles, SM-3 and SM-6 missiles are used, which can intercept ballistic missiles in the midcourse and terminal phases of flight, respectively.
The lowest tier of defence consists of ESSM missiles, and it transpired that the Mk 45 guns are also effective against drones. These findings are similar to those obtained by the French and Italian navies. The issue is not the effectiveness of the weapons but the cost, which is particularly significant for SM family missiles, ranging from £1.6 to £9.85 million each, depending on the version.
In addition, the highest-ranking US military leaders have expressed concerns in recent months that missiles fired in the Red Sea and elsewhere are depleting critical stockpiles of ammunition needed for future combat in the Pacific against China. For this reason, the naval service last year requested additional funds from Congress to restore stockpile levels to a satisfactory state.
SM family missiles — the main shield of the US Navy
The US Navy currently uses a mix of missiles from the Standard Missile (SM) series, ranging from the SM-2MR Block IIIA dating back to the 1990s to the latest SM-6 and SM-3, introduced into service in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
The SM-2MR Block IIIA version, with a launch weight of approximately 700 kilograms, features an improved Mk 125 fragmentation warhead that directs the force of the explosion and fragments towards the target, significantly increasing destructive power (more fragments hit the target). The missile guidance is still inertial navigation with a semi-active radar homing head requiring target illumination by the ship's radar until impact.
It is worth noting that since 2007, the SM-2MR Block IIIB variant has been produced. In addition to the semi-active radar homing head, an electro-optical seeker has been added, enhancing its ability to counter stealth targets made, for example, using stealth technology.
The SM-3 missiles, on the other hand, are four-stage missiles weighing 1,500 kilograms with a range of up to 650 nautical miles and are dedicated to intercepting ballistic missiles already in space. They have a kinetic warhead that destroys the object through collision, requiring great precision in hitting the target. SM-3 missiles have also been used to support Israel's defence during Iranian missile attacks.
SM-6 missiles are quite similar, as they are a cheaper two-stage option equipped with a directional fragmentation warhead. Their range is identical to that of the SM-3 (650 nautical miles), but they are intended for engaging simpler targets. It is worth noting that the missile guidance system is identical among all mentioned types, starting from the SM-2MR Block IIIB.
