Iranian missiles aiding Houthis in downing US drones
For months, Yemeni Houthis have been able to shoot down the renowned American MQ-9A Reaper drones. It turns out they use very unusual anti-aircraft missiles from Iran for this purpose. Here’s what is known about them.
The Houthi rebels from Yemen recently shot down another MQ-9A Reaper drone, likely using unusual anti-aircraft missiles from Iran known as 358, Saqr-1, or SA-67.
These missiles are more accurately described as anti-aircraft loitering munitions. A significant advantage is their ability to be launched from very simple portable launchers, making them harder to locate compared to traditional anti-aircraft systems like the 2K12 Kub or S-125 Neva.
Missile 358, Saqr-1, or SA-67: a unique Iranian innovation on a global scale
Missiles 358, Saqr-1, or SA-67 first appeared in photos in 2019 and have since been frequently found among pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, the Lebanese Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen.
It is a missile approximately 9 feet long, equipped with a turbojet engine and a jettisoned rocket booster for takeoff. This feature allows it to be launched from improvised launchers, and then propulsion is provided by a turbojet engine that acquires oxygen from the air through intakes located at the rear of the body.
This propulsion allows for a range of several dozen miles despite its small size. However, the downside is its low speed, generally below Mach 1, so the Iranian innovation primarily targets drones or helicopters.
A unique feature of the Iranian missile is its ability to loiter over a designated area thanks to the presence of satellite and inertial navigation modules. Subsequently, an onboard thermal imaging sensor scans the area for targets and homes in on them. Its task is to deliver the fragmentation warhead as close as possible.
Interestingly, the Iranians opted for an optical proximity fuze based on 16 emitters and receivers. These measure the time from the laser beam's emission to its return after reflecting off an object; if the time is short enough, the fuze triggers the warhead's explosion.
Overall, it is a useful "fire-and-forget" system that does not distinguish between targets and essentially homes in on anything that enters its area of interest. This could be a drone, helicopter, or military or civilian aircraft.
