(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The United States military has lost another MQ-9B Reaper drone after the high-tech unmanned aerial vehicle valued at approximately $30 million (RM141 million) a piece, was shot down by Houthi fighters in Yemen.
This incident marks the sixth U.S. MQ-9B Reaper drone to be downed in the Middle East, with five of these instances attributed to Houthi forces in recent times.
Collectively, the U.S. has incurred losses totaling $180 million (RM847 milliion) from six downed MQ-9B Reaper drones in the region, five of which were targeted by Houthi combatants.
This month alone has seen three of these drones shot down.
Images and videos of the wreckage of the sixth MQ-9B Reaper, successfully brought down by Houthi forces, have widely circulated on social media, showing Houthi fighters, clad in sandals, standing atop the drone debris.
Media reports indicate that the sixth MQ-9B Reaper was shot down over the Marib area in Yemen.
There are also reports suggesting that this drone had to make an emergency landing, most likely after being targeted by the Houthi’s Electronic Warfare (EW) systems.
On May 18, the fifth MQ-9B Reaper belonging to the U.S. forces was successfully downed in the coastal region of Marib, Yemen.
Houthi spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree confirmed that the fifth drone was also brought down in Marib using a ground-to-air missile.
He characterized the American MQ-9B Reaper’s activities as “hostile operations” within the Marib region.
The Houthi group is believed to employ the advanced “Saqr 358” missile, which combines capabilities of a suicide drone and an anti-aircraft missile.
Developed by Iran, this dual-mode missile has been effectively used by various Iranian proxy groups in conflict zones across the Middle East, including the Houthis in Yemen and other armed groups in Iraq and by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Since 2020, the Houthi armed group has released videos showcasing the “Saqr 358” missile as an anti-aircraft weapon destroying fighter jets, helicopters, and drones.
The U.S. military deploys the MQ-9 Reaper, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GASI), to ensure the security of coastal waters off Yemen for commercial shipping.
This sophisticated drone is capable of flying for 27 hours non-stop at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and carrying payloads exceeding 1.7 tons, including sensitive sensor and electronic systems.
Primarily operated for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the MQ-9 Reaper can also be equipped with “Hellfire” missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II, and GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) for strike operations.
According to 2021 data, the U.S. Air Force operates over 300 MQ-9 Reaper drones, which were first introduced in 2007 and are expected to be phased out by 2035. — DSA