PNN – The US Navy Secretary admitted that in the year and a half of attacks on Yemen, the force’s air fleet’s ammunition has been severely depleted.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, US Navy Secretary John Phelan admitted in a written statement before Congress that the US Navy, after a year and a half of war in Yemen, has signed new contracts with military factories to renew its aviation sector ammunition.
According to Sputnik, he said that the US Navy is facing a shortage of air defense ammunition and urgently needs to replenish its reserves.
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American sources previously reported on March 5 that the US Navy has fired more than 400 air defense missiles, including SM-2, SM-6, SM-3 and ESSM, in the past 15 months to counter Yemeni drone and missile attacks. This is more than the number used in the past 30 years.
Meanwhile, the cost of each SM-6 missile is about $4.3 million and the SM-3 is up to $28.7 million. These costs have put a lot of financial pressure on the Navy.
John Phelan also told Congress during his confirmation hearing on February 27, 2024, that the US Navy was facing a dangerous shortage of ammunition and was in urgent need of replenishment.
Previously, during Joe Biden’s term, then-US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told Congress on April 16, 2024, that the US Navy had spent nearly $1 billion on ammunition and needed additional funding to replenish stocks.
In this regard, the Task & Purpose website wrote in a report that due to high costs, the Navy has turned to using cheaper missiles such as Sidewinder and Hellfire. Also, 5-inch cannon shells and hypersonic projectiles are being used to counter Houthi drones.