How the USS Carney Is Fighting Off Iranian Attacks in the Middle East

Christian Baghai
3 min readDec 8, 2023

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The USS Carney is one of the most advanced warships in the world, equipped with a powerful radar and missile system that can detect and intercept threats from hundreds of miles away. The ship is part of the U.S. Navy’s carrier strike group, which consists of an aircraft carrier and several escort ships that provide air, surface and underwater defense. The carrier strike group is a formidable force that can project power and influence across the globe.

But the USS Carney is not just a weapon of war. It is also a tool of diplomacy and deterrence, especially in the volatile Middle East, where tensions are high between Israel and Iran and their respective allies. The USS Carney was sent to the Red Sea along with other U.S. destroyers to deter the Houthis and other groups from getting involved in the Israel-Hamas War. The Houthis are a rebel movement in Yemen that is backed by Iran and has been fighting a civil war against the Saudi-led coalition since 2014. The Houthis have also launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as U.S. and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

The USS Carney’s main weapon against these threats is the AEGIS system, which stands for Advanced Electronic Guidance and Instrumentation System. The AEGIS system is a network of sensors, computers and weapons that can track and engage multiple targets simultaneously. The system uses the AN/SPY-1 radar, which is a phased array radar that can scan 360 degrees and cover a range of more than 300 miles. The radar can detect and track hundreds of targets, including aircraft, missiles, ships and submarines. The system then assigns the targets to different weapons, such as the SM-2 and SM-6 missiles, which are surface-to-air missiles that can intercept incoming threats. The system can also launch the SM-3 missile, which is a ballistic missile defense weapon that can destroy missiles in space.

The AEGIS system is not only defensive, but also offensive. The system can launch the Tomahawk cruise missile, which is a long-range, precision-guided weapon that can strike targets on land or at sea. The Tomahawk can carry a conventional or nuclear warhead and can fly at low altitudes to avoid detection and interception. The system can also launch the Harpoon anti-ship missile, which is a supersonic, sea-skimming weapon that can sink enemy ships.

But the AEGIS system is not infallible. It can be overwhelmed by a large number of targets or jammed by electronic warfare. That is why the USS Carney also has a secondary weapon system called the CIWS, which stands for Close-In Weapon System. The CIWS is a rapid-fire, radar-guided gun that can shoot down missiles and drones that get too close to the ship. The CIWS can fire up to 4,500 rounds per minute and has a range of about 2 miles. The CIWS is also autonomous, meaning it can operate without human intervention.

The USS Carney is not only a warship, but also a home for more than 300 sailors who live and work on board. The ship has a variety of facilities, such as a gym, a library, a barber shop, a medical clinic and a chapel. The ship also has a helicopter landing pad and a hangar that can accommodate two MH-60R helicopters, which are multi-role helicopters that can perform anti-submarine, anti-surface, search and rescue and reconnaissance missions.

The USS Carney is a multi-purpose ship that can perform a wide range of missions, from combat to humanitarian assistance. The ship is a testament to the U.S. Navy’s technological prowess and operational flexibility. It is also a symbol of the U.S. commitment to its allies and partners in the Middle East, as well as a deterrent to its adversaries. The USS Carney is fighting off Iranian attacks in the Middle East, but it is also keeping the peace and stability in the region.

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Christian Baghai
Christian Baghai

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