Houthi Shoots Down Another US-made MQ-9 Reaper Drone In Just 72 Hours
An MQ-9 Reaper drone belonging to the United States military is estimated to be worth US$30 million (RM135 million), which means Washington is estimated to bear a loss of US$270 million (RM1.16 billion) after nine of its advanced MQ-9 Reaper drones were shot down in the Middle East since October last year.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Houthi armed group in Yemen claimed that they had shot down another MQ-9 Reaper drone belonging to the US military, the second such drone to be brought down by its fighters in just 72 hours.
Overall, it was the ninth American MQ-9 Reaper drone successfully shot down by Middle East armed groups since the conflict between Palestine and Israel broke out on October 7 last year.
An MQ-9 Reaper drone belonging to the United States military is estimated to be worth US$30 million (RM135 million), which means Washington is estimated to bear a loss of US$270 million (RM1.16 billion) after nine of its advanced MQ-9 Reaper drones were shot down in the Middle East since October last year.
According to Houthi group spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Saree as quoted by local media, the ninth MQ-9 Reaper drone belonging to the US military was successfully shot down while it was carrying out “hostile activities” in Saada province, Yemen.
Seventy-two hours before the downing of the MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Saada region, the eighth MQ-9 Reaper drone was successfully shot down by Houthi fighters when the drone made by the General Atomics company was carrying out “hostile activities” in the Marib region.
According to him, Houthi forces will continue to mount attacks in support of Palestinians and “are in the process of strengthening defensive capabilities” to confront continuing joint air strikes by the US and United Kingdom on Yemen.
The United States military have been using MQ-9 Reaper drones developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GASI) over Yemen for years including during years of civil war that broke out after the Houthis rebelled against the government in late 2014.
The advanced US-made drone is capable of flying for 27 hours non-stop and at a height of 50,000 feet and carrying a payload weighing more than 1.7 tons including sensitive sensor and electronic systems.
The MQ-9 Reaper drone which is operated mainly for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaisance (ISR) operations and missions can also be equipped with “Hellfire” missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) for attack purposes.
Based on the data obtained in 2021, the United States military (mainly the United States Air Force – USAF) is reported to be operating a total of more than 300 MQ-9 Reaper drones that were first introduced to the United States military in 2007.
The United States military is reportedly planning to phase out the MQ-9 Reaper drone service in 2035.
The Houthi armed group is believed to be using an advanced missile “Saqr 358” produced by Iran to shoot down US and Israel’s military drones.
The “Saqr 358” dual-mode missile combines the capabilities of a suicide drone as well as an anti-aircraft missile with the main target being drones operated by Iran’s enemies in conflict areas in the Middle East.
Developed by Iran, the advanced missile is also used by Iranian proxy groups in several conflict areas in the Middle East such as the Houthis in Yemen and other armed groups in Iraq and also by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Since 2020, the Houthi armed group has released videos showing the use of the “Saqr 358” missile as an anti-aircraft missile in bringing down fighter planes, helicopters and drones. – DSA
