Watch: Yemeni Forces Down U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Drone
The MQ-9 drone was conducting hostile operations over Yemeni space
The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Friday the downing of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. The incident, which took place in the airspace over the Marib Governorate, is the fourth such aircraft to be shot down since the commencement of the “Battle of the Promised Conquest and the Sacred Jihad” in support of Gaza.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, stated in a brief announcement that the Yemeni air defenses, with Allah’s support, successfully targeted the American MQ9 combat drone on Thursday evening. The drone was reportedly engaged in hostile activities over Marib at the time of its downing.
The statement highlighted that the drone was brought down by a domestically produced surface-to-air missile and that footage has been released.
This latest downing is part of a series of similar incidents involving the MQ-9 Reaper, a technologically advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) employed by the United States. The Yemeni Armed Forces have reported to have shot down a total of eight MQ-9 drones, with four of these incidents occurring since the start of the aforementioned military operation in support of Gaza, and the remaining four during the years of the Saudi-American aggression on Yemen.
The MQ-9 Reaper is known for its high-tech specifications, including an advanced radar system, high-precision cameras, and sensors capable of scanning a 360-degree area. Its multifunctional capabilities allow it to perform surveillance, and reconnaissance, and act as a missile launcher in combat zones. The Reaper can carry a significant payload of missiles and laser-guided bombs, enabling it to strike both high-value mobile targets and fixed positions.
Military observers note that the downing of the MQ-9 Reaper, a UAV often touted by the U.S. for its capabilities and nicknamed alternately as “The Predator” and “The Killer Hunter,” reflects the advancements and capabilities of the Yemeni Air Force. The successful engagement of such a sophisticated system, valued at $30 million and weighing 5 tons with a wingspan of 20 meters, requires complex technology that few countries possess.
The Yemeni forces’ ability to counter the MQ-9 Reaper narrows the aerial superiority gap between Sanaa and Washington, which has relied on such assets in its global military engagements. This development could potentially lead to further steps by Sanaa to down more advanced American fighters, thereby fully securing Yemeni airspace and territory against foreign violations, challenging Western dominance led by the United States.