Yemen: For the first time in its history, the United States finds itself facing an exceptionally tough and fierce adversary: the Yemeni Armed Forces. They have changed the battlefield rules so unpredictably that neither the US nor its allies can anticipate Yemeni naval movements and attacks, forcing the US Navy to confront an unexpected opponent using flexible and innovative tactics.

The US is now dealing with unconventional warfare tactics by the Yemeni Armed Forces, which makes adaptation and effective response challenging. This means the Yemeni forces are creating a new reality on the battlefield.

While the US Navy focused efforts with allies on combating drones, a new threat emerged: explosive drone boats. These high-speed, nearly invisible vessels can carry large amounts of explosives and execute suicide attacks on warships and commercial vessels, compounding the challenges in naval operations.

Despite the ongoing threat from drones, which the US Navy has struggled to neutralize, the introduction of drone boats presents an additional challenge that surpasses current defensive systems.

These drone boats, used increasingly effectively by Sana'a, add a new and complex dimension to the maritime security landscape in the region, presenting previously unanticipated challenges.

Effectiveness of Explosive Drone Boats

These drone boats, or "flying boats," pose a significant threat and instill fear in the US and Western naval forces due to their sudden and rapid attack methods. Their small size and high speed allow them to operate independently of the main forces, surprising opponents and penetrating large naval defenses.

Using specific tactics, these boats can execute precise attacks on warships and commercial vessels, leaving targeted forces little time to prepare or respond. This increases the effectiveness of the attacks and heightens the danger faced by military and commercial ships.

Moreover, Sana'a's escalation in using drone boats signifies a shift in naval warfare methods, making it harder for traditional naval forces to counter these threats. This necessitates developing new strategies and advanced technology to face these swift, surprise attacks.

The effectiveness of these boats relies on their remote-controlled guidance systems towards targets, making them difficult for naval forces to counter effectively. Their speed and independent, almost invisible movement make detection and interception challenging before they reach their targets.

These boats can also carry massive explosives, significantly enhancing their capacity to destroy ships and naval installations. The Yemenis possess a variety of highly destructive drone boats, increasing the challenges faced by US and Western naval forces in the region.

Dual Threat

Combining drone aircraft and explosive drone boats complicates the maritime security environment. Simultaneous air and sea attacks create a formidable challenge for naval defenses, making predicting and countering attacks efficiently exceedingly difficult. This increased pressure on current defense systems, primarily designed for traditional threats, requires new defensive capabilities to address the speed and stealth of drone boats.

This ongoing pressure weakens the effectiveness of US naval defenses. Keeping pace with evolving threats demands significant investments in research and development to upgrade defense systems, imposing additional financial burdens on the US military budget and potentially affecting other national defense priorities.

Furthermore, detecting and identifying explosive drone boats before they strike is a major challenge. Traditional surveillance and reconnaissance technologies may be insufficient against these fast and stealthy threats.

Overall, the US Navy faces an unprecedented and difficult challenge in countering Sana'a's drone boats and aircraft. This complex and ongoing threat imposes significant pressure on defensive systems, financial resources, and military assets, making it hard to withstand without a fundamental shift in strategies and tactics. As the Yemeni military continues to develop its techniques and tactics, the challenge becomes more complex.

Military Affairs Journalist
Translated by Almasirah English website