U.S. To Spend $1.2 Billion To Maintain Red Sea Operations & Restock Missile Stockpiles

US Navy Ship — Image Credits: U.S. Navy/X

The Pentagon plans to spend around $1.2 billion to maintain its naval forces deployed in the Red Sea and restock missile stockpiles in response to increased attacks by Iran and its proxies, per the newly released budget.

The budget, detailed in two documents dated September 6 and submitted to congressional defense committees, reveals the costs of maintaining an increased military presence in the region.

This includes expenses for shooting down drones and missiles launched by Iranian forces and Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The amount being spent includes $190 million for restocking the RTX Corp. Standard Missile-3 Block 1-B, and $8.5 million for replacing AIM-X Sidewinder missiles.

Additionally, $300 million will be allocated to unplanned depot maintenance for the USS Bataan, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, and vessels in the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group involved in Red Sea operations.

The Pentagon also revealed the cost of smaller but crucial defense components, including $16,000 for self-defense flares.

Per the documents, Israel, with the support of the US, UK, and other allies, intercepted an April attack involving 300 drones and missiles fired by Iran.

These costs come from the Pentagon’s response to increasing tensions in the Middle East, which is linked directly to “the situation in Israel,” per the budget report.

Each Standard Missile-3 Block 1B is valued between $9 and $10 million. Recent military efforts involving firing 12 Standard Missiles to protect Israel from another wave of Iranian attacks cost an estimated $120 million.

The budget also includes demands for $276 million to purchase additional Standard Missile-6 models, $57.3 million for Tomahawk cruise missiles, and $6.7 million for Enhanced Sea Sparrow missiles, all manufactured by RTX Corporation.

Another $25 million has been set aside for Boeing Co.’s JDAM-GPS guidance kits and $7.4 million for Small Diameter Bombs. Due to the regional crisis, the Pentagon plans to invest $25 million to expand Standard Missile production.

The Pentagon also plans to spend $26.4 million to replace RTX’s “Coyote Block 2” drone interceptors, which were used in recent operations, and $20 million on BAE Systems’ laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets.

Reference: Bloomberg

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