In the midst of escalating clashes between American warships and Houthi militants in the Red Sea, concerns are mounting over the growing cost of safeguarding U.S. naval forces and international shipping. Over the past two months alone, U.S. Navy destroyers have successfully shot down 38 drones and multiple missiles in the region, as the Iran-backed militants continue to launch attacks on commercial vessels transporting energy and oil through the world's crucial shipping lanes.

The cost of using expensive naval missiles to counter unsophisticated Houthi drones, which are estimated to be worth only a few thousand dollars each, is becoming a pressing issue for Pentagon officials. According to anonymous Defense Department officials, these naval missiles can cost up to $2.1 million per shot, highlighting the need to explore lower-cost options for air defense.

Experts are stressing the importance of finding alternative systems that are more cost-effective and better aligned with the resources expended by the Houthi militants in their attacks. Mick Mulroy, a former DOD official and CIA officer, emphasized that the current situation favors the militants, and recommended that the U.S. consider adopting defense systems that are on par with the financial investment made by the adversaries.

While details on the specific weapons used and the range at which the drones are intercepted remain classified, experts believe that the Standard Missile-2, a medium-range air defense weapon, is a viable option. This missile, with a cost of $2.1 million per shot, has the capability to reach up to 92 or 130 nautical miles. Another alternative is using a destroyer's 5-inch gun with air bust rounds, which has shown positive results against similar drones. However, this method is limited to targets within 10 nautical miles.

The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, with a range of less than 5 nautical miles but costing $1.8 million per shot, and the 20mm Close-In Weapons-System gun, for targets inside one nautical mile, are the shortest-range options available. However, as the drones get closer to the ships, the risk of impact increases significantly.

Magazine capacity for missiles is not expected to be a problem in the near future, as the region currently has at least four destroyers patrolling, each containing 90 or more missile tubes. On the other hand, the Houthi one-way attack drones, primarily of Iranian origin, are estimated to cost just $2,000, highlighting a stark disparity in expenditure.

Efforts to safeguard international commerce have prompted Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to announce the formation of a new international maritime coalition, known as Operation Prosperity Guardian. This task force aims to counter the attacks and has garnered support from at least nine partner nations thus far, with a total of nineteen nations signing on. However, some Arab nations are hesitant to attach their names to the operation due to the perception that it primarily protects Israeli-related commercial vessels.

As these clashes continue to disrupt shipping in the crucial passageway connecting the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal, roughly 12 percent of global trade is being rerouted away from the Red Sea, forcing ships to take alternative routes via the southern Cape of Good Hope.

The U.S. Navy remains committed to its primary mission of ensuring the smooth flow of international commerce, and the severity of the situation has prompted the deployment of significant military firepower to the region, including two carrier strike groups and several destroyers. Defense Secretary Austin emphasizes that this is not just a U.S. issue but an international problem that requires a collective response to uphold international law and maritime security.

In the face of mounting costs and concerns, experts and officials stress the need to drive down the expenses associated with defense systems while maintaining their effectiveness, in order to address the ongoing threat posed by the Houthi drone attacks in the Red Sea.