01/03/2026
Excellent video covering Navy destroyer rearm at sea SM6 missiles which can destroy approaching planes or drones and systems under development which at low cost fight off drones and drone swarms.
Points out that a total of 96 SM6 Missiles costing $4 million each can be launched from vertical missile tubes from existing Arleigh Burke destroyers.
Video presents solutions of laser guns which can destroy individual drones in seconds and the Meteor system under development which can destroy approaching drone swarms. Does not mention Sea Wiz a longstanding machine gun type defense which can destroy approaching threats.
Challenge in this discussion is how long in takes to develope this technology, implement, required power plants, and to out fit current fleet of destroyers.
Not clearc if the Arleigh Burke's have capacity to produce electrical power to fire the Lazer weapon described. Can existing ships be fitted with the Meteor system or do they require new ships.
After canceling the Constellation frigates, can the new ones built on Coast Guard cutter hulls accommodate these extraordinary systems that require large amounts of power?
Can the "Battleship" concept produce enough ships to be constantly deployable, given multiple oceans and seas to provide constant presence given cycles of deployment, maintenance, and training.
Big challenge given late investments in carrier and submarine construction while dealing with limited shipyard capacity.
Ken Kraetzer
Right now in the Red Sea, Commander Robertson is facing a mathematical nightmare. Twenty Houthi su***de drones, costing just $20,000 each, are closing in on ...
