French Navy defends use of million-euro missiles to down Houthi drones

PARIS — France’s maritime commander for the Indian Ocean defended the use of million-euro missiles to down drones used by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to attack shipping in the Red Sea, citing the value of the lives and assets protected, and the sophistication of the threat.

The Languedoc frigate patrolling in the southern Red Sea in December shot down multiple drones using Aster 15 missiles, at a cost that defense analysts estimate at around €1 million (U.S. $1.1 million) per missile. The British Royal Navy’s HMS Diamond has also used the missiles to fend of drone attacks in the area.

The proliferation of cheap drones on the battlefield poses a challenge to Western navies, whose missile-based air defense tends to be effective but pricey. The economic calculus of ultra-capable interceptors, designed to counter expensive expensive anti-ship missiles or manned aircraft, quickly loses its appeal against drones costing thousands of dollars, analysts have warned.

“The cost is not that of the missile we use, but the cost of what we protect,” Vice Adm. Emmanuel Slaars said in response to questions by Defense News at Jan. 11 press briefing here. Slaars said there was “no doubt” the Languedoc was targeted in an incident early December when the warship used MBDA’s Aster 15 missiles to shoot down two drones coming from the direction of Yemen.

The commander said not all drones used by the Houthi’s are cheap loitering munitions, and some variants used for target observation are “quite sophisticated.” Downing reconnaissance drones can head off a more lethal attack, Slaars said.

The Houthi rebels are using shipping-tracking data to identify potential targets, then fly observation drones to scout vessels before attacking them with drones and anti-ship missiles, according to Slaars. The drone and missile technology being used by the Houthis is from Iran, “there’s no secret there,” the vice admiral said.

The Languedoc has been escorting French-flagged vessels or ships with “French interests” through the Red Sea independent of Operation Prosperity Guardian , Slaars said. When not on escort duty, the frigate is available to patrol zones assigned as part of the U.S.-led operation, though the Languedoc remains under French command at any time.

Italy is also operating a vessel in the Red Sea, while a Greek ship hasn’t arrived yet, according to Slaars, who is the commander of the French forces stationed in the United Arab Emirates as well as of the European-led maritime awareness mission in the Strait of Hormuz.

Rudy Ruitenberg is a Europe correspondent for Defense News. He started his career at Bloomberg News and has experience reporting on technology, commodity markets and politics.

巴黎——法国印度洋海事指挥官为使用价值数百万欧元的导弹击落也门胡塞武装用于袭击红海航运的无人机辩护，理由是生命和财产受到保护的价值，以及威胁的复杂性。

去年12月，在红海南部巡逻的“朗格多克”号护卫舰使用“紫菀-15”导弹击落多架无人机，据国防分析人士估计，每枚导弹的成本约为100万欧元（约合110万美元）。英国皇家海军的“钻石”号护卫舰也曾在该地区使用过这种导弹来抵御无人机袭击。

战场上廉价无人机的激增对西方海军构成了挑战，西方海军的导弹防空系统虽然有效，但造价昂贵。分析人士警告说，旨在对抗昂贵反舰导弹或有人驾驶飞机的超强拦截机，其经济效益很快就会被售价仅数千美元的无人机所取代。

“代价并非我们所用导弹的成本，而是我们所保护的目标的成本，”海军中将埃马纽埃尔·斯拉尔斯在1月11日于此地举行的新闻发布会上回答《防务新闻》提问时表示。斯拉尔斯说，毫无疑问，“朗格多克”号在12月初的一次事件中成为了袭击目标，当时该舰使用MBDA公司的“紫菀15”导弹击落了两架从也门方向飞来的无人机。

指挥官表示，胡塞武装使用的无人机并非全是廉价的巡飞弹，一些用于目标侦察的无人机“相当精密”。斯拉尔斯说，击落侦察无人机可以阻止更致命的袭击。

据斯拉尔斯称，胡塞武装利用船舶追踪数据识别潜在目标，然后放飞侦察无人机侦察船只，最后用无人机和反舰导弹发动攻击。这位海军中将表示，胡塞武装使用的无人机和导弹技术来自伊朗，“这已不是什么秘密”。

斯拉尔斯表示，“朗格多克”号护卫舰一直在红海为悬挂法国国旗或具有“法国利益”的船只护航，此举独立于“繁荣卫士行动”。在非护航任务期间，该护卫舰可执行美国主导的行动中指定的巡逻任务，但“朗格多克”号始终处于法国指挥之下。

据驻阿拉伯联合酋长国的法国部队指挥官兼欧洲领导的霍尔木兹海峡海上感知任务指挥官斯拉尔斯称，意大利也在红海运营一艘船只，而希腊船只尚未抵达。

鲁迪·鲁伊滕贝格是《防务新闻》的欧洲记者。他的职业生涯始于彭博新闻社，拥有报道科技、大宗商品市场和政治方面的经验。