What Weapons Are US and UK Using Against Yemen’s Houthis?

After issuing warnings, the United States and British forces have taken action against Iran-backed Houthi rebels for their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Here’s an overview of the weapons and military equipment used by the US and the UK:

1. Tomahawk Missiles: The US Navy’s Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) are cruise missiles capable of carrying a 1,000-pound conventional warhead over long distances. Launched from surface ships or submarines, they fly at subsonic speeds on evasive routes, making them difficult to intercept. These GPS-guided missiles are highly accurate and can adjust their targets or courses post-launch.

2. Guided-Missile Submarine USS Florida: USS Florida is one of four nuclear-powered guided-missile submarines (SSGNs) in the US Navy. Originally Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, they were converted to guided-missile subs in the mid-2000s. The USS Florida can carry 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, providing a significant firepower advantage. SSGNs are known for their ability to deliver a large number of missiles rapidly.

3. US Navy Guided-Missile Destroyers: The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are a crucial part of the surface fleet. These destroyers have a displacement of up to 9,700 tons and are equipped with a variety of defensive and offensive armaments. They deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles from their Vertical Launching System (VLS), with each destroyer having 90 to 96 VLS cells.

The specific destroyers involved in the attacks on Yemen have not been disclosed, but several of these warships have been deployed in the Red Sea to defend commercial vessels against Houthi drone and missile attacks in recent months.