In the dark waters of the Red Sea, a tense encounter unfolded in the early hours of the morning.

At precisely 1:47 AM, the USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, detected a new airborne contact.

Located 112 miles northwest of Bab-el-Mandeb, the ship’s radar picked up a target at 38 nautical miles, bearing one-one-four.

The altitude was 600 feet, and the speed was approximately 115 knots, indicating a converging threat.

This threat was identified as a Shahed-136 one-way attack drone, a weapon that has gained notoriety in recent conflicts.

The situation was further complicated by the ongoing calibration of the AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare suite on one frequency band.

In essence, the radar was performing tasks typically reserved for the electronic warfare system, showcasing the challenges faced by modern naval forces in high-stakes environments.As the clock ticked, the tension escalated.

At 1:47 AM and 44 seconds, the crew of The Sullivans made a critical decision.

An SM-2 Block IIIA missile was launched from the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS).

The engagement was swift, with the Shahed-136 intercepted at a distance of 26.4 nautical miles just three minutes after first detection.

This total engagement time of 2 minutes and 28 seconds raises important questions about the efficacy of naval defense systems against low-altitude threats.