Since October 2023, during a period of increasing tension in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the US Navy has faced a new challenge in the form of the Houthi threat from Yemen. The US military has been forced to deploy significant amounts of anti-missile and anti-aircraft weapons to intercept hostile missiles and drones launched towards Israel and ships off the Yemeni coast. According to the American publication The War Zone, during this period, about 100 missiles of the Standard family were used up, including modifications SM-2 and SM-6, costing up to $4 million apiece.

These developments highlight the growing threat from the Houthis, who not only attack with ballistic missiles, but also use cruise missiles, drones, and unmanned boats and submersibles packed with explosives. US Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper noted the tension of the situation when the ship's crew has to make a decision to intercept a ballistic missile in just a few seconds.

This difficult situation has sparked discussions in the United States about the need to strengthen shipborne air defense and missile defense to counter the rich and diverse threats. The Houthis' actions have also forced U.S. warships and foreign navies to deploy their resources to intercept threats, underscoring the need for significant resources to combat a campaign targeting shipping.