The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner shot down a drone launched from Yemen

A US guided-missile destroyer has once again been forced to engage the weapon in the Middle East. A few weeks ago, USS Carney (DDG 64) shot down drones and missiles. USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) was operating on 15 November 2023.

Here's What We Know

The destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) was transiting waters in the Red Sea. The crew engaged and shot down a drone that was flying towards the ship. The drone was launched from Yemen.

USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) operates in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility separately from the aircraft carrier strike group Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The rest of the fleet is in the Mediterranean Sea, i.e. in the zone of responsibility of the European Command.

At the moment it is not specified what type of defence equipment USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) used. The ship's armoury includes the Mk 41 vertical launch system, which allows the use of Standard family interceptors.

Last month, USS Carney (DDG 64) engaged Standard Missile 2. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, which was also in Red Sea waters, destroyed 15 drones and four missiles launched from Yemen towards Israel in a matter of hours.

Source: USNI News