Pilots on the Red Sea Frontline: Battling Houthi Drones from Above

At night, a fighter jet takes off from the USS Bataan, a massive US assault ship. Another jet follows shortly after, disappearing over the eastern Mediterranean. Normally, the USS Bataan transports troops quickly to land, with its 24,000 Marines and sailors on board along with armored vehicles, jets, and helicopters. However, the crew had to adapt to air combat when Yemen's Houthis began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones. Lead pilot Captain Earl Ehrhart never expected to be involved in such operations. Just before the conflict in Gaza began, Captain Ehrhart and his colleagues believed they were heading home after patrolling the waters near the Persian Gulf for months. On October 7th, they received new orders to head towards the eastern Mediterranean and monitor the coast of Gaza in response to the attack on Israel. Twelve days later, they were redirected to engage with the Houthis. The Yemeni Houthis have attacked over two dozen shipping vessels since mid-December, claiming they were all Israeli-owned or operated, although many had no connection to Israel. As retaliation, the US and UK started carrying out airstrikes, including from the USS Bataan. Captain Ehrhart describes the Houthis as a robust and capable force, emphasizing the need to take them seriously. To effectively counter this rebel group, the Marines modified a Harrier jet for air defense, equipping it with missiles to respond to Houthi drone attacks. Although Ehrhart has successfully shot down seven drones, intercepting them carries significant risks. Located a short helicopter ride away from the USS Bataan is the Arleigh Burke, another US warship on high alert. Its Combat Information Center is the central command point equipped with advanced radar systems, monitoring for any potential land or sea threats. Some alerts regarding incoming Houthi drones are relayed to Captain Ehrhart on the USS Bataan to provide him with the necessary reaction time. The duration of the USS Bataan's mission remains uncertain, with tensions escalating in the region. Following a drone attack by Iraqi Shia militants on a US base in Jordan, retaliatory strikes are being carried out in Iraq and Syria against what President Biden refers to as "radical Iran-backed militant groups." These groups, along with the Houthis, form part of an "axis of resistance" allied with Iran, claiming their attacks are in response to the conflict in Gaza. A Shia Iraqi militia has even called for attacks on Israeli ports, directly challenging the USS Bataan's mission. Colonel Dennis Sampson, the ship's commanding officer, acknowledges the complex and unpredictable nature of the current operating environment. With numerous actors involved, the situation is only becoming more challenging.