London: UK Royal Navy vessels are unable to attack Houthi rebels positions in Yemen because they lack the necessary missiles, it has been revealed, in what one former defense chief called a “scandal.”
A UK defense source told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that HMS Diamond, the Royal Navy destroyer stationed in the Red Sea, lacks “the capability to fire to land targets,” meaning the UK’s sole source of offensive capability comes from Royal Air Force jets stationed at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, around 1,500 miles away.
HMS Diamond, the source said, has instead been involved in downing “Houthi drones targeting shipping in the Red Sea,” with the only functioning weapons systems on UK destroyers being fixed artillery guns.
US Navy destroyers, meanwhile, have the capacity to fire Tomahawk guided missiles, with a range of 1,500 miles.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the UK Armed Forces, warned the government of the need to “speed up our acquisition processes” for “land attack missile systems” on British vessels five years ago when he was head of the Royal Navy.
Since then, a temporary system of Norwegian-made Naval Strike missiles has been installed on just one UK vessel, and has yet to be tested. A new cruise missile system for British warships is due to be introduced in 2028.
Earlier this year, US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro warned that Royal Navy investment is “significantly important” given “the near-term threats to the UK and US.”
A spokesman for the UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement: “As with all coalition operations, commanders select the best equipment for the job. HMS Diamond is an air defense destroyer, which has been directly involved in successfully destroying Houthi drones targeting shipping in the Red Sea.