The U.S. Navy has proceeded to upgrade the Aegis combat system on its ships, using evidence of Houthi attacks with unmanned and ballistic missiles.
To understand how it could modify the combat system's software to deal with drones and missiles, a new type of naval threat, the United States Navy and Lockheed Martin have developed and deployed software updates for destroyers that shoot down Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea. These updates were developed and deployed with the data from all shootdowns since October. In comparison to, for example, a cruise missile or an aircraft, the traces left by sensors are much smaller and may even have some degree of manoeuvrability. It is possible to incorporate all of these into the Aegis algorithms as additional types of threats offering specialised management systems.
The Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Centre has been the driving force throughout this endeavour. As part of its mandate, the Centre is responsible for developing strategies for surface warfare, incorporating those strategies into advanced training events, and providing the fleet with tactical experience.
As an illustration, the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group took part in a Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training exercise that was significantly influenced by the kinds of encounters that destroyers have witnessed in the Red Sea over the past half year.
