News - Yemen: The US Navy has formally begun steps to develop a new naval missile to replace its current Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM Block 2), according to The War Zone, a US outlet specializing in defense affairs.

The report said the decision follows “harsh lessons” from Red Sea confrontations with the Yemeni Armed Forces. It noted that the United States, together with 11 NATO allies, has launched a joint project reflecting the West’s growing concern over Yemen’s rapidly advancing military capabilities—particularly after a series of precision operations against American and allied warships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Analysts told the site that recent Yemeni strikes have forced NATO to reassess its naval doctrine. Despite upgrades, the ESSM system has failed to counter complex threats that combine drones and multi-directional missile attacks. This has underscored the need for more flexible, longer-range defense systems capable of reloading at sea during active operations.

The new program seeks to design advanced naval missiles capable of defeating hypersonic weapons and armed drones, while closing operational gaps exposed by Yemeni operations. The joint effort aims to strengthen NATO’s maritime defenses in the face of challenges previously dismissed as “unconventional.”

According to the report, what Washington once labeled irregular threats has now become a key driver of change in Western defense systems. The Yemeni Armed Forces—despite limited resources—have succeeded in imposing a credible balance of deterrence, forcing NATO decision-makers to adopt strategies that were never on the table before.

Yemen, the report added, has emerged as a central player in the maritime arena, reshaping the rules of engagement and creating serious disruption for Western fleets. This transformation is already influencing Western arms industries, which are racing to provide urgent solutions to the new reality imposed in the Red Sea.

At the same time, the Israeli entity has failed to secure its southern coastline or prevent the disruption of its shipping routes, further highlighting the shifting balance of power in regional waters.

Since late 2023, Yemen’s Armed Forces have intensified naval operations in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, striking Israeli-linked and Western warships with coordinated drone and missile attacks that have overwhelmed advanced defenses. 

The escalation has disrupted Israeli-linked shipping and exposed the limits of Western naval power, forcing Washington and NATO to fast-track new defense systems. Analysts say Yemen has emerged as a pivotal force reshaping naval warfare and driving changes in the global arms race.