Rookie Navy Chief of Naval Ops "regrets" wasting money on costly missile when a cheap one would do the trick

Well, well, well, look who's got a case of missile envy! New acting Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. James Kilby is kicking himself for the Navy’s obsession with flashy, overpriced missiles to swat down Houthi pests in the Red Sea. "I regret it," he whined to reporters at the Sea Air Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland, promising to hunt for cheaper toys to play with.

Kilby’s all swagger, claiming he’s "not concerned" about the Navy keeping its 350 USS Carney sailors safe or guarding commercial ships from rogue rebels. No, his real heartbreak? "Not having better ways to more economically attrit the threat." Translation: he’s tired of blowing millions on missiles when a bargain-bin zapper would do the trick.

Back when he was vice chief, Kilby was apparently drooling over "a high-end laser – 500kW to one megawatt – and I have regret for that." Oh, the tragedy of dreaming big!

"I had not been thoughtful enough to think about the UAV threat," he admitted, realizing a less juiced-up gizmo could’ve handled those pesky drones. Now he’s swearing the Navy is pivoting to "much more cost-effective" tech to squash autonomous Red Sea nuisances, while nagging the defense industry to churn out ammo faster. 

"We have to get after our industrial base or munitions industrial base the same way we have to get after our shipbuilding industrial base," he barked. Inspiring stuff.

When quizzed if the Navy’s got enough ammo to keep the Houthis at bay, Kilby smirked, "I think we need more munitions." 

Gee, you think? 

"We certainly need more depth of magazine, if we’re going to get into a protracted conflict." Better stock up, Admiral—those $2 million missiles don’t grow on trees, unlike the Houthis’ $2,000 drones that keep eating them for breakfast. Since the March 15 offensive, those rebels have even bagged three $30 million MQ-9 Reapers. 

Kilby got the acting CNO gig in February after Adm. Lisa Franchetti got the boot in Trump’s military leadership purge—along with Gen. C.Q. Brown and Gen. James Slife. 

No word yet if Kilby’s auditioning for the permanent role or just enjoying the temp spotlight. Either way, he’s sticking to Franchetti’s dream of 80% combat-ready ships, despite subs limping at 67%, ships at 68%, and carriers at 70%. "Awareness seems to be higher," he bragged to Fox News Digital about the shipbuilding mess, adding, "it's going to take a national effort." 

He’s also "super focused" with the Marine Corps on reviving the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program—because nothing screams efficiency like a stalled project meant to ferry Marines onto beaches to blast anti-ship missiles and snoop around. "We’re doing it now not when our ship’s in construction," Kilby said. "I’m optimistic here." 

Sure, buddy, optimism’s free—unlike those ships.

Oh, and about the sailor shortage? "I’ll take that 23,000-person gap, make it 18,000 this year and 8,000 the next year," he boasted. Bold words for a Navy that’s been firing million-dollar shots at Dollar General drones. 

Good luck, Kilby—sounds like you’ll need it. Har, har, har.

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