The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) has reshaped how the U.S. Navy prepares for high-level combat operations, pioneering several firsts in naval aviation and combat tactics while deployed in the Red Sea. Over the course of late 2023 and early 2024, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and its accompanying ships engaged in sustained combat operations against Houthi-launched drone swarms and anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Their efforts were critical in ensuring international shipping routes remained open and safe.
The IKECSG completed its final pre-deployment training in early October 2023, leaving Norfolk, Virginia, seven days after the Israel-Hamas War began. The original mission was to conduct a routine 6th Fleet deployment, including a planned port call in Split, Croatia. However, just one week into their voyage, new orders changed the strike group’s mission. The Pentagon directed IKECSG to proceed at maximum speed to the Middle East to counter Houthi threats to international shipping.
By October 28, the Eisenhower transited the Strait of Gibraltar, briefly meeting up with the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) for a joint exercise before heading through the Suez Canal. Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2), known as the “Battle Axe,” began flying combat operations for Operation Inherent Resolve upon arrival in the region.
Houthi forces had escalated attacks on international shipping, prompting the Eisenhower’s first combat engagements. In December, the VFA-105 Gunslingers executed the first-ever combat use of the AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder against Houthi drones. Shortly after, an MH-60R Seahawk from HSM-74 engaged and destroyed Houthi small boats attempting to hijack a merchant vessel.
The conflict intensified on January 9, 2024, in what became known as the “Battle of the BAM.” A massive, coordinated drone and missile attack targeted the strike group. IKECSG responded with fighter aircraft, as well as missile intercepts from its escort destroyers—USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Mason (DDG 87), USS Gravely (DDG 107), and the British HMS Diamond (D34). This battle marked a historic moment as the U.S. Navy and its allies successfully intercepted over 20 inbound threats, setting the stage for further engagements.
On January 12, IKECSG was authorized to conduct retaliatory strikes against Houthi-controlled launch sites in Yemen. These attacks resulted in the first combat use of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) from a Super Hornet, significantly reducing enemy missile and drone capabilities.
Throughout February and March, the strike group saw additional large-scale engagements, including “The Rumble in the Red Sea,” “The Hudaydah Hat Trick,” and “March Madness.” Each engagement required rapid-response flight operations and further demonstrated the evolving threat posed by Houthi forces.
During “The Battle Tanker Strikes Back” in late February, a Super Hornet in tanker configuration shot down an enemy drone, potentially using its onboard M61A2 20mm gun—another first for naval aviation. Additionally, in March, an EA-18G Growler scored its first air-to-air kill, further solidifying the Eisenhower’s reputation as an adaptable and innovative force.
The sustained combat environment forced rapid adaptation in naval tactics and weapons loadouts. The “Heater Wagon” and “Murder Hornet” configurations were developed to maximize the number of Sidewinders and other air-to-air munitions each fighter could carry. The Navy also increased the maximum trap weight for carrier landings to accommodate heavier aircraft returning from combat missions.
IKECSG averaged over 4,000 flight hours per month, with squadrons like VFA-32 expending more than 121,000 pounds of combat ordnance. Pilots frequently launched multiple times per day, reflecting the intensity of operations.
In July 2024, the Eisenhower completed its deployment and entered a maintenance phase. Captain Christopher “Chowdah” Hill was reassigned to the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), which continued combat operations in the Red Sea. Many sailors and airmen aboard the Eisenhower earned their first Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) due to the high-intensity engagements.
The Eisenhower’s deployment redefined how the U.S. Navy approaches pre-deployment training and combat readiness. Future Carrier Strike Groups will incorporate lessons learned from this historic mission, ensuring the Navy remains prepared for the evolving threats of modern naval warfare.
