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New Navy chief 'regrets' costly missile interceptors against Houthis, pushes for cheaper Red Sea defense

New acting Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. James Kilby said he regrets the Navy’s reliance on expensive, high-powered missile interceptors to counter the Houthi threat in the Red Sea and pledged to push for cheaper, more efficient solutions.

Speaking to reporters at the Sea Air Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Kilby said he was "not concerned" about the Navy’s ability to protect its people – such as the 350 sailors aboard the USS Carney missile destroyer – or its ability to safeguard commercial shipping.

He is concerned, however, about "not having better ways to more economically attrit the threat."
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I believe the US Navy is close to deploying high powered laser anti-missile weapons. Those will probably fill the bill nicely.

This undated image of a HELIOS system test was published in Jan 2025.

Various sources are saying 60-120kW and 7km range. I can't find info about duration of pulse or repeat rate.
Northwest · M
@ElwoodBlues Also from the same speech;

In his former role as deputy commander of Fleet Forces Command, Kilby said he was "focused on a high-end laser – 500kW to one megawatt – and I have regret for that."