Houthi Air Defences Destroy US-Built Saudi MQ-9 Drone: Report

Air defence systems of Yemeni Houthis have reportedly destroyed a US-made MQ-9 drone belonging to Saudi Arabia and its allies, in Dhamar province, Yemen, on Tuesday night.

Houthi spokesman Yahia Sarie said the MQ-9 type drone was shot down with a locally developed missile which will be introduced to the public “soon,” according to Al Masirah TV.

"The Saudi-led Arab coalition should think a thousand times before invading Yemen’s airspace. We can prevent alien aircraft from appearing in the skies over Yemen," the spokesman added.

“We are aware of reporting that a US MQ-9 was shot down over Yemen. We do not have any further information to provide at this time,” the US military’s Central Command said in a statement on Wednesday.

The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Vehicles/Aircraft (RPV/RPA) is the first hunter-killer UAV designed for long-endurance and high-altitude surveillance. The Reaper has a 950-shaft-horsepower (712 kW) turboprop engine. It allows the Reaper to carry 15 times more ordnance payload and cruise at about three times the speed of the MQ-1 Predator drone.The aircraft is monitored and controlled by aircrew in the Ground Control Station (GCS), including weapons employment.