By Wang Changfan

王昌凡

According to US media reports, a spokesperson of the US Department of Defense recently announced that the Houthi militants dispatched eight drones and launched eight anti-ship missiles to attack two US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Analysts pointed out that the confrontation between the US military and the Houthi group in the Red Sea region has lasted for nearly a year with no sign of ending.

据美国媒体报道，近日，美国国防部发言人宣称，也门胡塞武装出动8架无人机并发射8枚反舰导弹，对正在通过曼德海峡的2艘美国海军阿利·伯克级驱逐舰发起袭击。分析人士指出，美军与胡塞武装在红海地区的对抗已持续近一年，仍未出现结束的迹象。

According to a report released by the US Central Command, the US military successfully thwarted more than 100 Houthi attacks or threats as of March this year. By June, US forces were conducting intercept operations almost every day. As of October, the US military continued to respond to the Houthis' complex attacks. Analysts from the Hudson Institute described the US Navy's operations in the Red Sea as the most sustained combat operations since World War II.

根据美国中央司令部发布的报告，截至今年3月，美军已成功阻止胡塞武装超过100次的袭击或威胁行动。至6月，美军平均每天都在进行拦截行动。直至10月，美军仍在持续应对胡塞武装的“复杂攻击”。美国智库哈德逊研究所的分析人士称，美海军在红海的行动“是自二战以来经历的最为持久的战斗”。

Although the US claims that the establishment of a multinational coalition fleet to protect the Red Sea's critical international trade routes, external observers believe that this move aims at serving US interests. The US military sees the Red Sea region as a "testing ground" for new concepts, systems, and tactics, and has gained substantial experience.

尽管美国宣称，组建多国联合舰队旨在保护红海航线这一重要的国际贸易水道，然而外界普遍认为，美国此举实则是为满足自身利益。美军更是将红海地区视作测试新理念、新系统和新战法的“试验场”，并从中收获不少经验。

First, the US has strengthened the combat readiness of ships. In September this year, Daryl Caudle, commander of the US Navy Fleet Forces Command, said in a speech that the US Navy destroyers Carney and Mason completed all combat readiness tasks within 14 days after receiving order and quickly rushed to the Red Sea region. This is the initial practice of the plan proposed by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti to "achieve and sustain an 80 percent combat surge-ready posture of naval forces by 2027."

其一，强化舰艇战备能力。今年9月，美海军舰队司令部司令达里尔·考德尔在一次演讲中提到，美海军“卡尼”号和“梅森”号驱逐舰在接到任务后的14天内完成各项战备工作，并迅速赶赴红海地区，这是美海军作战部长莉萨·弗兰凯蒂所提出的“2027年前将海军部队战备率提升至80%”计划的初期实践。

Second, the US has taken the chance to test its joint command systems. In March this year, the US Central Command announced the use of the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) system in the Red Sea region. The system integrates the combat resources of the army, navy, and air force to achieve cross-domain information and intelligence sharing to ensure that the right weapons are used to strike targets at the right time. During the Red Sea operation, the US Navy fleet relied on this system to work with the Air Operations Center and regional air hubs to detect incoming weapons from a longer distance and increase the decision-making preparation time. With the improvement and upgrade of the JADC2, the US Navy will further improve decision-making efficiency and maintain its maritime advantage.

其二，检验联合指挥系统。今年3月，美国中央司令部宣布在红海地区使用“联合全域指挥控制”系统。该系统整合了陆、海、空各军种的作战资源，实现跨域信息情报共享，确保在恰当时间运用恰当武器打击目标。美海军舰队在红海行动中，依托该系统与空军空中作战中心、地区空中作战中心进行分工协作，能够从更远距离发现来袭武器，增加了决策准备时间。随着“联合全域指挥控制”系统的完善和升级，美海军将进一步提升决策效率，维持海上优势。

Third, the US has improved training outcomes. The US Navy has effectively improved the training effectiveness of surface ships by promoting the use of a real-time two-way information feedback mechanism. In August, while being deployed in the Red Sea, the USS Mason transmitted approximately 5TB of operational data to the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) in California. This allowed the destroyer's crew to share high-threat environment experiences with instructors and trainees and receive combat performance assessments from the center. The feedback loop, which previously took up to 55 days, has been optimized to just 72 hours.

其三，提升训练成效。美海军通过推进实时信息双向反馈机制，有效提升了水面舰艇的训练成效。今年8月，“梅森”号驱逐舰在红海执行任务期间，将约5TB的行动数据发送至位于美国加利福尼亚州的海军水面和水雷作战发展中心，与该中心的教官和学员共享在高威胁环境中的作战经验，并从中心获取战斗评估反馈。该反馈机制极大缩短了信息回传与处理时间，由原来可能需要55天，优化到只需72小时。

Although the US military claims that the Red Sea escort operation has enhanced the fleet's combat capabilities in many aspects, the operation has been controversial since its inception.

尽管美军宣称红海护航行动从多方面提升了舰队实战能力，但该行动自开展之初便饱受争议。

Firstly, the motives are questionable. Critics argue that though the US ostensibly aims to safeguard maritime routes, its more direct objectives are to counter the Houthis and other adversaries while showcasing unwavering support for Israel. This operation conceals the US's role in deliberately exacerbating Middle East conflicts, which further destabilizes the situation in the region.

首先，行动动机受到质疑。批评者指出，美国表面上宣称要维护海上通道的安全，实际上更直接的目的在于打击和威慑胡塞武装及其他国家，同时借此展示对以色列的无条件支持。这一护航行动掩盖了美国故意挑动中东冲突的本质，导致地区局势进一步恶化。

Secondly, the effectiveness of the operation is questionable. In the past year, the US and its allies failed to effectively guarantee the safety of Israeli-related ships in the Red Sea. According to a report released by the International Ship Organization, since January this year, the number of ships passing through the Suez Canal has decreased by 49 percent year-on-year, while the number of ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has decreased by about 65 percent.

其次，行动实效受到质疑。近一年来，在红海地区的行动中，美国及其盟友未能有效保障与以色列相关的船只在红海航线的安全。据国际船舶组织发布的报告显示，自今年1月以来，通过苏伊士运河的船只数量同比减少49%，而曼德海峡的船舶通行量更是减少约65%。

Thirdly, the overall cost-effectiveness is questionable. The Standard Missile-2 used by the US in the Red Sea region costs about $2.4 million per unit. Even the relatively cheap SeaRAM close-in defense missile costs as much as $950,000 per unit. In stark contrast, 60 percent of the weapons used by the Houthis are drones that cost only between $200 and $1,000.

再次，整体效费比受到质疑。美军在红海地区使用的“标准”-2导弹，单枚造价约240万美元。即便价格相对较低的“海拉姆”近防导弹，单枚成本也高达95万美元。与之形成鲜明对比的是，胡塞武装所使用的武器中，有60%为成本仅在200至1000美元之间的无人机。