Crisis in the Red Sea
Houthi missiles intercepted at the last moment – Islamists were almost able to sink US destroyers
The Phalanx system has its own radar – it is the last line of defense for US destroyers.
© Raytheon / PR
According to CNN, a US destroyer shot down a Houthi missile with the Mark 15 Phalanx close-in defense system. There was no damage to the ship, but it was still a dangerous situation. The missile was able to come within a mile of the ship.
The Mark 15 Phalanx belongs to the Eisenflak, no guided missiles are used, but projectiles fired from a 20 millimeter machine cannon of the M61 Vulcan type. The M61 is a so-called Gatling gun with six rotating barrels with a very high rate of fire. The system is nicknamed “R2-D2” because of its appearance. United States Central Command (Centcom) officials told the station “CNN”: “In the past, these missiles have been intercepted by U.S. destroyers in the area at a range of eight miles or more. Now the USS Gravely had to use its Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) for the first time since the US began intercepting Houthi missiles late last year. Ultimately the missile was shot down.”
Way too close
Still, this is not good news. The missile was apparently not located at a longer distance; it must have flown under the Aegis combat system. The approach to within a mile is extremely close and worrying. If the Houthis had launched the attack with multiple rockets, one could have gotten through. Although the attack was repelled, it showed that even a modern guided-missile destroyer is not invulnerable.
The Arleigh Burke-class ships are the backbone of the US Navy. The first ship was commissioned in 1991 and there are currently 73 in service. The newer Zumwalt-class destroyers proved to be an expensive flop. Only studies exist of the successor “Future Surface Combatant”, which is scheduled to be built from 2030. Currently, the Arleigh Burke class is being challenged by the Chinese Type 55 destroyers. Because of their size – 180 meters and 13,000 tons displacement for the Type 55 compared to 155 meters and 9,700 tons displacement of the Arleigh Burke class – the USA operates the Chinese combat ships as cruisers.