What Yemen’s Hypersonic Missiles Mean for Regional Power Dynamics
The “Falasteen-2” missile is not the first hypersonic missile revealed by the Yemeni armed forces. Prior, the “Hatim-2” missile had been unveiled, but the latest disclosure had a much greater impact, not only due to the mere achievement of acquiring this rare technology but also because of the historic operation that marked its debut. The unveiling of the “Falasteen-2” created a seismic shift for the enemy, forcing them to confront a new, unfamiliar equation of deterrence.
In March Russian media leaked reports suggesting that Yemeni forces had acquired hypersonic missile technology. These leaks coincided with repeated assurances from Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badruldeen al-Houthi, hinting at forthcoming surprises. While the enemies attempted to dismiss and deny these reports, they could not ignore the broader implications of the technology. The Associated Press highlighted that “hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds exceeding Mach 5, pose critical challenges to missile defense systems due to their speed and maneuverability.” The report added that “the threat posed by a hypersonic missile depends on its maneuverability. Ballistic missiles follow a predictable trajectory that allows anti-missile systems like the U.S.-made Patriot to anticipate and intercept their path. However, a hypersonic missile, with the ability to change course, becomes significantly more difficult to intercept.”