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The Navy Needs Advanced Guns and Cheaper Missiles to Defend Against Drone Swarms

Getting more value for our defense dollar has gained in urgency as we have seen the proliferation of cheap drones that can severely damage a ship.
The Navy Needs Advanced Guns and Cheaper Missiles to Defend Against Drone Swarms
Iranian drones—similar to what Hezbollah used against Israel on Oct. 13, 2024—are lined up at a military exercise in a secret location in Iran on Aug. 24, 2022. Iranian Army/WANA/Handout via Reuters
Mike Fredenburg
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Commentary

In order to defend its ships and defeat its enemies, our Navy needs to employ inexpensive, highly effective missiles such as those that Israel is now making standard on its ships. It also needs to take advantage of the great strides in gun technology to provide its ships with a big boost in air defense capabilities.

Mike Fredenburg
Mike Fredenburg
Author
Mike Fredenburg writes on military technology and defense matters with an emphasis on defense reform. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and master's degree in production operations management.