US confirms Houthi rebels downed $30 million MQ‑9 Reaper drone
Shiite Houthi fighters have released pictures purportedly showing the wreckage of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. Shortly after, the Associated Press confirmed that the US military had indeed lost such a drone. Here, we present its key features and capabilities.
5:11 PM EDT, October 1, 2024
Responding to journalists' questions, the US military admitted that "the MQ-9 Reaper was shot down, but we have nothing more to add." The drone was downed on Monday, September 30.
MQ-9 Reaper shot down by Houthis
A short video of the incident, which occurred in northern Yemen, has surfaced on social media. Videos and photos are also being published showing that the Houthi rebels have gathered the surviving electronics from the downed drone, likely to see if they can use any of it for their own purposes.
Notably, a photo shows a fragment of a bomb carried by the MQ-9 Reaper. It is possible this was an MK-82 bomb, with which this American unmanned aerial vehicle can be armed.
A drone costing $30 million
The MQ-9 Reaper is a drone that Americans have been using in the Middle East for some time. It was developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and is characterized by very high capabilities, which translate to its price. A single MQ-9 Reaper costs about $30 million.
Not the first such loss for the US
The MQ-9 Reaper is noticeably larger and heavier than the MQ-1 Predator from which it was developed. It has a turboprop engine, allowing it to achieve speeds of over 250 mph.
The maximum altitude the MQ-9 Reaper can reach is about 50,000 feet. It can carry reconnaissance equipment or weaponry with a total mass of 3,850 pounds. The MQ-9 Reaper's arsenal includes not only bombs but also air-to-ground missiles, such as the AGM-114 Hellfire.
This is not the first MQ-9 Reaper shot down in the Middle East. The Houthi rebels themselves previously conducted a similar downing. This political-military movement in Yemen has been a significant problem not only for Israel but also for many other countries, as it systematically attacks maritime trade routes in the Red Sea. The Houthi movement is supported by Iran, which sides with Hamas and Hezbollah in their fight against Israel.
