Houthi Forces Shoot Down 14th U.S. Military MQ-9 Reaper Drone Over Yemen

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The Houthi armed group has reportedly shot down the 14th U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone today, just days after downing the 13th.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Houthi forces, stated that the 14th MQ-9 Reaper was intercepted while “conducting a mission threatening Yemen’s security” over the Marib region.

He claimed that the advanced U.S. drone, valued at approximately $30 million (RM134 million), was brought down using a Saqr 358 missile, which the group alleges is domestically produced.

Since October last year, the U.S. military has lost 14 MQ-9 Reaper drones worth an estimated $420 million (RM1.85 billion) to Houthi fighters.

The loss of 14 high-tech drones represents a significant blow to U.S. military operations.

Just last Saturday, the U.S. Air Force lost its 13th MQ-9 Reaper drone, which was shot down by Houthi forces over the Bayda region of Yemen.

The U.S. military employs the MQ-9 Reaper, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GASI), to secure maritime areas off Yemen’s coast for commercial shipping and conduct reconnaissance and targeting operations on Yemeni soil.

The MQ-9 Reaper can operate for up to 27 continuous hours at altitudes of 50,000 feet, carrying payloads exceeding 1.7 tons, including advanced sensors and sensitive electronic components.

Primarily used for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the drone can also be armed with Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II bombs, and GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) for strike operations.

As of 2021, the U.S. military, particularly the U.S. Air Force (USAF), operated more than 300 MQ-9 Reaper drones, which were first introduced into service in 2007. The U.S. plans to retire the MQ-9 Reaper by 2035.

The Houthis claim the 14th MQ-9 Reaper was downed using the dual-mode Saqr 358 missile.

The Saqr 358 missile combines kamikaze drone capabilities with anti-aircraft functions, specifically targeting enemy drones operated by Iran’s adversaries in Middle Eastern conflict zones.

Developed by Iran, the sophisticated missile is effectively deployed by Iranian proxy forces, including the Houthis in Yemen, as well as armed groups in Iraq and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The versatility and effectiveness of the Saqr 358 missile make it a weapon of choice for Iran’s proxies, enabling them to disrupt enemy reconnaissance and surveillance, particularly by Israel and the United States.

Little is known about the missile’s technical specifications, but the Saqr 358 measures approximately 3 meters in length with a missile diameter of 152mm.

Weighing 50kg, it is powered by a small turbojet engine and can engage targets at distances ranging from 10km to 100km.

The missile carries a 10kg high-fragmentation warhead and does not require sophisticated launch systems, making it easy to relocate and deploy.

The dual-mode missile has also been showcased in several Iranian military parades featuring the Saqr 358. — DSA