A modern warship with a functioning 20 mm cannon should be able to defend itself against the drones considered here, while merchant ships remain vulnerable. With too few escorts for a convoy programme, warships take positions along the Red Sea to cover passing traffic. A weapon aimed at a merchant ship may then cross the escort's engagement area. The interceptor must reach a point ahead of the target, allowing for how far it will travel during the missile's flight. Several crossing threats increase the ranging and engagement problem. The circular-area demonstration contrasts that geometry with a target approaching the defending warship.
Notable Point · 3:43:02-3:45:40
Red Sea merchant protection and crossing intercepts
Protecting merchant ships can require harder crossing intercepts than a warship faces while defending itself.