America’s Advanced Drone (MQ-9) Taken Out of Service in Yemen
Military expert Brigadier General Mujib Shamsan: The repeated downing of MQ-9 drones across various liberated Yemeni provinces signifies that advanced air defense systems are being deployed nationwide and are not limited to specific governorates.
Military researcher Kamel Al-Maamari: The frequent targeting of the MQ-9 highlights a pivotal shift in warfare dynamics, where unconventional defense systems increasingly challenge expensive high-tech military assets.
In the ongoing struggle of the Promised Victory and Sacred Jihad, America’s cutting-edge military technology has consistently faltered against Yemeni advancements. After U.S. aircraft carriers, destroyers, and battleships suffered significant defeats at the hands of Yemen’s armed forces, the MQ-9 drone—an essential part of the U.S. arsenal for reconnaissance, surveillance, and combat—is now repeatedly falling from Yemeni skies.
To date, 13 MQ-9 drones have been shot down during the Promised Victory campaign, marking a significant blow to what is considered one of the most sophisticated aerial assets of the U.S. military. Known as the “Reaper,” the MQ-9 represents the apex of U.S. drone technology and has been heavily relied upon during campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to military sources, the United States owns around 350 MQ-9 drones reserved for critical missions. Before the al-Aqsa Flood Operation, only three MQ-9s had ever been downed globally—one each in Iraq, Libya, and over the Black Sea, the last incident involving accusations against Russia. However, since the operation, Yemen’s locally developed surface-to-air missiles have downed 13 MQ-9 drones, an unprecedented event in the history of U.S. military aviation.
A Staggering Blow to American Prestige
Military expert Brigadier General Mujib Shamsan characterized the consistent downing of MQ-9 drones as a serious setback to U.S. technological superiority. He noted that these drones are regarded as symbols of American power due to their advanced reconnaissance and combat capabilities.
Speaking to Ansar Allah’s media outlet, Shamsan emphasized that the repeated successes of Yemen’s air defenses signal a robust foundation for missile defense systems. He hinted that further advancements in these capabilities are only a matter of time. Yemen’s air defenses have effectively restricted the operations of reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft, particularly MQ-9s, which can no longer operate freely in Yemeni airspace.
He cited the downing of MQ-9 drones in governorates such as Al-Bayda, Al-Jawf, Marib, Sana’a, Taiz, and Saada, demonstrating the widespread deployment of advanced air defense systems across liberated regions.
Despite the risks, the United States continues deploying MQ-9 drones over Yemen, a strategy Shamsan attributes to American desperation to achieve its objectives in the conflict. The collapse of human intelligence networks in Yemen has forced the U.S. to rely increasingly on drones to compensate for its intelligence shortfalls.
America’s Loss of Strategic Vision in Yemen
Shamsan asserted that Yemen’s air defense achievements have rendered the United States effectively “blind” in its conflict with Yemeni forces. He described the repeated loss of the MQ-9—a symbol of U.S. technological might—as an unparalleled humiliation.
He noted that 13 MQ-9 drones represent approximately 17% of the 73–75-unit fleet operated by the U.S. Navy for advanced aerial operations. Losing such a significant portion of its fleet within a single year of Yemeni operations marks an unprecedented blow to the United States’ advanced reconnaissance capabilities.
This aerial setback coincides with broader Yemeni successes in neutralizing advanced American defense systems, including the Patriot missile systems deployed to protect Saudi Arabia and the Zionist entity. Yemen’s missile and drone advancements have severely undermined these systems, further diminishing their effectiveness.
A Crisis for America’s Drone Industry
Military researcher Kamel Al-Maamari highlighted that the United States heavily depends on drones like the MQ-9 for intelligence gathering, especially in areas where it lacks a strong ground presence. The intensifying conflict in Yemen has heightened the need for reliable intelligence, compelling the U.S. to risk deploying MQ-9 drones despite their vulnerability to Yemeni air defenses.
Al-Maamari noted that the inability to establish intelligence networks in Yemen has forced the U.S. to rely on these costly drone missions. The repeated losses not only weaken America’s operational capabilities but also tarnish its reputation among allies and adversaries alike.
This crisis extends to the MQ-9’s manufacturer, with several nations reconsidering procurement contracts due to the drone’s vulnerability. Attempts to salvage its reputation through technical upgrades have faltered, as even the improved models have been downed in Yemen, casting further doubt on the drone’s efficacy.
Al-Maamari concluded that the consistent downing of MQ-9 drones signifies a transformative shift in modern warfare. Unconventional defense systems now pose a significant challenge to expensive, high-tech military equipment. This development threatens not only the future of the MQ-9 drone but also the broader reputation of U.S. military technology as a whole.
