Reflections on the USS Eisenhower Strike Group’s Red Sea Deployment
The MOC
July 23, 2024
I recently had the privilege of taking command of the USS Eisenhower (IKE) Strike Group near the end of its extended deployment in the Red Sea. The strike group, comprising the IKE, Carrier Air Wing Three, and several additional warships—including USS Philippine Sea, USS Gravely, USS Laboon, USS Mason, and USS Carney—had spent the previous seven months combating attempts by Iranian-backed Houthi militia to disrupt maritime commerce in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden through drone and missile attacks on civilian vessels.
During an intense week, I witnessed strikes from both crewed and uncrewed aircraft, observed warships defending against air and surface threats, and watched two rescues of civilian mariners from merchant ships struck by Houthi missiles. As we finally set course for home, I had a unique opportunity to reflect on the Red Sea conflict from an outsider’s perspective. Here are some key observations:
Validation of Navy Training and Doctrine
This deployment affirmed the effectiveness of our Navy’s training processes and combat doctrine, underpinned by the unwavering commitment of our Sailors. Having observed this strike group’s journey from maintenance through deployment certification in my previous role as the U.S. Fleet Forces Command director of Joint and Fleet Operations, I was impressed by their evolution into a formidable warfighting team. The crucible of combat further honed their abilities, demonstrating that our training not only meets certification standards but equips our teams to continuously improve both at sea and in combat.
2. Weapon System Effectiveness
The success of our weapon systems—many of which were deployed operationally for the first time in the Red Sea—was a highlight of this mission. Notable firsts included:
An air-to-air engagement by an EA-18G Growler
Combat employment of the AGM-154C JSOW glide bomb, AGM 114K Hellfire missile, and AGM-88E AARGM missile—each the most modern variant of their respective weapons families
First combat use of the SM-6 surface-to-air missile
First surface-to-air engagement of a hostile unmanned aerial vehicle by a U.S. warship
3. Agile Support Infrastructure
The stateside analytical infrastructure supporting our ships and aircraft proved responsive and adaptable at every turn. The Houthis demonstrated agility in evolving their tactics and expanding their weapons capabilities; however, the U.S. Navy showcased even greater flexibility. Our ability to analyze and learn from each Houthi attack, coupled with support from Navy systems command warfare centers and tactical warfighting development centers, allowed us to continuously improve our offensive and defensive strategies.
4. Future Challenges and Opportunities
As technology transfers from Iran (and potentially Russia) to the Houthis continue, our support systems will face increasing pressure. To maintain our decisive edge in modern conflicts, we need to develop secure, cyber-protected methods for remote data extraction from ship and aircraft systems, reducing reliance on manual, operator-intensive techniques.
5. The Enduring Relevance of Aircraft Carriers
This deployment reaffirmed the value of large-deck aircraft carriers in modern naval warfare. Despite ongoingdebates about their cost and vulnerability, the IKE Strike Group’s performance demonstrated the continued relevance of these platforms. Economies of scale matter in maritime combat. The statistics speak for themselves:
275 days deployed (265 underway)
Over 13,800 aircraft sorties launched
More than 31,500 flight hours logged
Over 10,000 arrested landings
23,000,000 gallons of jet fuel pumped
The combat output was equally impressive, with strike group aircraft expending 60 air-to-air missiles and 420 air-to-surface weapons. Combined with 180 missiles fired from the vertical launchers of accompanying ships, the strike group executed over 750 combat engagements.
6. Upholding American and Maritime Values
Perhaps most significantly, the IKE Strike Group exemplified American values and upheld our country’s international maritime obligations. In the final days of the deployment, USS Philippine Searescued 25 mariners from two ships struck by Houthi missiles. Despite the inherent risks, the team fulfilled their duties under the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, saving lives when other vessels in the area did not intervene.
In conclusion, this deployment not only showcased the tactical and strategic capabilities of our naval forces but also reaffirmed our commitment to international maritime safety and humanitarian principles. As we continue to face evolving threats in complex environments, the lessons learned from this mission will undoubtedly shape our future naval operations and strategies.
Rear Admiral Kavon ‘Hak’ Hakimzadeh assumed command of Carrier Strike Group TWO in June 2024. His previous Flag assignment was as Director, Joint and Fleet Operations, N3, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
The views expressed in this piece are the sole opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Maritime Strategy or other institutions listed.
Center for Maritime Strategy
I recently had the privilege of taking command of the USS Eisenhower (IKE) Strike Group near the end of its extended deployment in the Red Sea. The strike group, comprising the IKE, Carrier Air Wing Three, and several additional warships—including USS Philippine Sea, USS Gravely, USS Laboon, USS Mason, and USS Carney—had spent the previous seven months combating attempts by Iranian-backed Houthi militia to disrupt maritime commerce in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden through drone and missile attacks on civilian vessels.
During an intense week, I witnessed strikes from both crewed and uncrewed aircraft, observed warships defending against air and surface threats, and watched two rescues of civilian mariners from merchant ships struck by Houthi missiles. As we finally set course for home, I had a unique opportunity to reflect on the Red Sea conflict from an outsider’s perspective. Here are some key observations:
This deployment affirmed the effectiveness of our Navy’s training processes and combat doctrine, underpinned by the unwavering commitment of our Sailors. Having observed this strike group’s journey from maintenance through deployment certification in my previous role as the U.S. Fleet Forces Command director of Joint and Fleet Operations, I was impressed by their evolution into a formidable warfighting team. The crucible of combat further honed their abilities, demonstrating that our training not only meets certification standards but equips our teams to continuously improve both at sea and in combat.
2. Weapon System Effectiveness
The success of our weapon systems—many of which were deployed operationally for the first time in the Red Sea—was a highlight of this mission. Notable firsts included:
3. Agile Support Infrastructure
The stateside analytical infrastructure supporting our ships and aircraft proved responsive and adaptable at every turn. The Houthis demonstrated agility in evolving their tactics and expanding their weapons capabilities; however, the U.S. Navy showcased even greater flexibility. Our ability to analyze and learn from each Houthi attack, coupled with support from Navy systems command warfare centers and tactical warfighting development centers, allowed us to continuously improve our offensive and defensive strategies.
4. Future Challenges and Opportunities
As technology transfers from Iran (and potentially Russia) to the Houthis continue, our support systems will face increasing pressure. To maintain our decisive edge in modern conflicts, we need to develop secure, cyber-protected methods for remote data extraction from ship and aircraft systems, reducing reliance on manual, operator-intensive techniques.
5. The Enduring Relevance of Aircraft Carriers
This deployment reaffirmed the value of large-deck aircraft carriers in modern naval warfare. Despite ongoing debates about their cost and vulnerability, the IKE Strike Group’s performance demonstrated the continued relevance of these platforms. Economies of scale matter in maritime combat. The statistics speak for themselves:
The combat output was equally impressive, with strike group aircraft expending 60 air-to-air missiles and 420 air-to-surface weapons. Combined with 180 missiles fired from the vertical launchers of accompanying ships, the strike group executed over 750 combat engagements.
6. Upholding American and Maritime Values
Perhaps most significantly, the IKE Strike Group exemplified American values and upheld our country’s international maritime obligations. In the final days of the deployment, USS Philippine Sea rescued 25 mariners from two ships struck by Houthi missiles. Despite the inherent risks, the team fulfilled their duties under the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, saving lives when other vessels in the area did not intervene.
In conclusion, this deployment not only showcased the tactical and strategic capabilities of our naval forces but also reaffirmed our commitment to international maritime safety and humanitarian principles. As we continue to face evolving threats in complex environments, the lessons learned from this mission will undoubtedly shape our future naval operations and strategies.
Rear Admiral Kavon ‘Hak’ Hakimzadeh assumed command of Carrier Strike Group TWO in June 2024. His previous Flag assignment was as Director, Joint and Fleet Operations, N3, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
The views expressed in this piece are the sole opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Maritime Strategy or other institutions listed.