(VIDEO) Houthis Down 21st U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, Delivering US$735 Million Blow to America’s Aerial Dominance
(Video) “With this 21st MQ-9 Reaper drone downed, the U.S. military is estimated to have incurred losses amounting to US$735 million (RM3.2 billion) due to these drone incidents,” according to a military observer.
(DEFEΝCE SECURITY ASIA) — Yemen’s Houthi militants have claimed yet another success in their escalating drone warfare, announcing the downing of a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper—the 21st American drone brought down since Israel initiated its major offensive on Gaza on October 7, 2023.
This latest strike, confirmed by Houthi officials, occurred mere hours after the group successfully intercepted their 20th MQ-9 drone in the airspace over Sana’a, an incident later corroborated by senior U.S. military authorities.
The downing of this 21st MQ-9 marks the sixth such drone lost since March 15, coinciding with intensified daily U.S. airstrikes targeting Houthi positions across Yemen, highlighting a notable increase in hostilities in the region.
Each MQ-9 Reaper, a sophisticated platform developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GASI), carries an estimated price tag of approximately US$35 million (RM154 million), reflecting the severe economic impact these losses represent to the United States military.
The MQ-9 Reaper, classified as a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system, offers extensive capabilities beyond surveillance—including precision strike operations using advanced missile systems, enabling it to execute complex ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) missions and targeted air attacks.
“With this 21st MQ-9 Reaper drone downed, the U.S. military is estimated to have incurred losses amounting to US$735 million (RM3.2 billion) due to these drone incidents,” according to a military observer.
Deployed primarily along Yemen’s coastline, these American drones play a critical role in securing vital maritime routes for commercial shipping, while simultaneously targeting strategic Houthi positions inland—a dual mission now significantly compromised by the Houthis’ growing anti-air capabilities.
Boasting a maximum flight duration of up to 27 hours and operational altitudes approaching 50,000 feet, the MQ-9 Reaper drone is capable of carrying payloads exceeding 1.7 tonnes, including state-of-the-art sensor suites and sophisticated electronic warfare systems.
Beyond their reconnaissance roles, MQ-9s can deliver an array of precision-guided munitions such as Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs, and GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM)—rendering them highly versatile and effective platforms in counterinsurgency operations.
According to 2021 records, the U.S. military—primarily the United States Air Force (USAF)—operates a fleet exceeding 300 MQ-9 Reapers, a drone system that first entered active U.S. service in 2007 and remains a central element of America’s global ISR strategy.
However, the Pentagon plans to retire these drones by 2035, transitioning toward more advanced, survivable systems amid evolving threats such as those now evident in Yemen.
The MQ-9 drone shot down by the Houthis was reportedly targeted by the dual-mode Saqr 358 missile, a sophisticated Iranian-made system specifically optimized for counter-drone operations.
Developed by Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, the Saqr 358 was first unveiled publicly in 2019, though it has seen extensive clandestine operational use among Iranian proxy militias throughout the region even prior to its official debut.
Iran’s defence sector regularly relies on reverse-engineering and indigenous manufacturing capabilities to circumvent international sanctions, enabling the production of sophisticated yet cost-effective weapon systems such as the Saqr 358, which incorporates widely accessible commercial components.
The missile was officially revealed in Tehran in 2023 during a high-profile ceremony attended by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu—an event symbolizing the deepening strategic and military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, especially amidst rising tensions with Western powers.
Operationally, the Saqr 358 has proven highly effective in the hands of Iranian-aligned groups, particularly the Houthis in Yemen, pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, and Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon, reflecting Tehran’s broad regional influence through the dissemination of advanced military technology.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah notably demonstrated the missile’s effectiveness by shooting down a highly valuable Israeli Hermes 900 drone (Kochav), worth around US$25 million (RM110 million), on April 8, 2024, emphasizing the strategic challenge posed by Iranian weapon proliferation to Israeli air superiority in the region.
Since October 2023, Hezbollah claims to have successfully intercepted at least five Israeli drones, including advanced Hermes 900 and Hermes 450 variants, further complicating Israeli surveillance and reconnaissance missions in southern Lebanon.
In Iraq, the discovery of an intact Saqr 358 missile near the Tuz Khormatu airbase in October 2021 served as a stark strategic warning directed at U.S. forces, highlighting the missile’s use as a deterrent against American aerial activities and underscoring Tehran’s reach deep inside Iraq’s security infrastructure.
Meanwhile, modified Saqr 358 missiles have reportedly been adapted by pro-Iranian groups in Syria for ground-attack roles, demonstrating the weapon’s exceptional versatility and effectiveness beyond its original air defence mission profile.
The Saqr 358 missile uniquely combines capabilities of both loitering munitions (“suicide drones”) and dedicated anti-air missiles, specifically engineered to neutralize the sophisticated drone capabilities of Tehran’s adversaries operating in conflict zones across the Middle East.
Its advanced design and operational versatility have rapidly positioned the Saqr 358 as a preferred anti-drone weapon system among Iranian proxies, significantly degrading enemy ISR capabilities, particularly those employed by Israel and the United States.
Dual-mode “Saqr 358”
Key technical specifications include:
Physical Characteristics:
Length: Approximately 2.75 to 3 meters.
Diameter: 152 mm (approximately 6 inches).
Weight: Between 50 and 58 kilograms, inclusive of fuel.
Warhead: A 10 kg high-fragmentation explosive charge with an optical proximity fuse and advanced infrared seeker, maximizing lethality and targeting accuracy.
Structure: The missile’s cylindrical body incorporates modular segments and multiple sets of X-shaped stabilization fins, facilitating rapid assembly and deployment in austere, forward-operating environments.
Propulsion System:
Solid-Fuel Booster: Provides immediate thrust during launch, detaching after depletion of fuel to optimize flight characteristics.
Gas Turbine Engine: Powers sustained cruise and loiter phases, likely employing compact turbojet engines such as the Titan AMT from AMT Netherlands, with flexible fueling options including diesel and kerosene, reducing logistical complexity in operational scenarios.
Though flying at subsonic speeds—slower than traditional surface-to-air missiles—the Saqr 358’s propulsion system is ideally suited for the interception of drones and rotary-wing aircraft, which are vulnerable at these lower velocities.
Guidance and Sensors:
Advanced Electro-Optical and Infrared Seekers: Ensure effective identification and precise tracking of low-altitude aerial targets under varying operational conditions.
GPS Antenna Array: Multiple antennas provide robust anti-jamming capability, ensuring accuracy and reliability even in heavily contested electronic warfare environments.
Loiter Capability: After launch, the missile patrols autonomously in a figure-eight pattern, actively hunting targets until acquisition or fuel depletion.
Launch System:
The Saqr 358 requires no sophisticated infrastructure; instead, it can be rapidly deployed via simple rail-mounted systems on the ground or vehicles, greatly enhancing tactical mobility in dynamic battlefield conditions.
“Saqr-358”
Operational Range and Altitude:
Effective engagement range varies from approximately 10 km to 100 km, depending on the operational mission profile and flight pattern.
Operational ceiling is approximately 28,000 feet (8,500 meters), though the missile is optimized for engagements at lower altitudes where drones typically operate.
Components and Sanctions Evasion:
Commercially available components, sourced via shell companies to evade international export controls, significantly complicate international attempts to curtail production and proliferation; examples include inertial sensors from Xsens Technologies and readily obtainable gas turbine engines.
