Middle East

Houthis shoot down expensive US drones

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The US has reportedly lost seven multi-million dollar MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles in the Yemen region since March 15. The US Navy also announced that an expensive fighter jet fell into the Red Sea from an aircraft carrier.

The cost of the US air operations launched in Yemen in mid-March has become clear. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that they had lost seven MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicles, which are used for advanced reconnaissance and strike capabilities.

The cost of an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) varies depending on its equipment and intended use, but the unit cost is approximately $32 million. The full system cost, including the ground control station, sensors, software, and training, is approximately $56 million. The cost per flight hour for the unmanned aerial vehicle varies between $3,600 and $5,000, according to US Air Force data.

The MQ-9 Reaper stands out particularly for its high-altitude, long-endurance reconnaissance/surveillance capabilities and its precision strike ability.

The US Navy also announced that an F/A-18E fighter jet fell into the sea from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. It was stated that one sailor was injured in the incident.

In 2021, a tractor towing an F/A-18E aircraft, which cost $67 million, also rolled off the ship and fell into the sea. The Navy stated, “The F/A-18E was actively being towed in the hangar bay when the movement team lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and the tow tractor rolled off the side of the ship and into the sea.”

The Navy statement said that the aircraft carrier and other aircraft continued their missions and that the incident was under investigation. No details were provided regarding recovery efforts for the wreckage.

The second F/A-18 serving on the Truman was lost in less than six months, following an incident late last year where it was accidentally struck by the USS Gettysburg guided-missile cruiser, with both pilots surviving.

The Truman is one of two US aircraft carriers operating in the Middle East, where US forces strike the Houthi armed group almost daily.

The military’s Central Command claimed on Sunday that US forces had struck over 800 targets as part of the operation and killed hundreds of Houthi fighters, including members of the group’s leadership.

Houthi-controlled media in Yemen reported on Monday that US strikes had hit a migrant detention center in the group’s stronghold, the capital Saada, killing at least 68 people.

The Houthi administration in Yemen announced in late 2023 that it had begun targeting maritime shipping in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, who were being targeted by the Israeli military following Hamas’s shock attack.

In 2025, the Houthi administration also carried out attacks directly targeting Israel.

Ballistic Missile Attack on Ben Gurion Airport (March 30, 2025): Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was targeted with a ballistic missile named “Zulfiqar”. The Israeli military announced that the missile was intercepted by air defense systems. However, shrapnel was reported to have fallen in some areas west of Jerusalem.

Hypersonic Missile Attack on Nevatim Air Base (April 27, 2025): The Houthi administration announced that they had struck Israel’s Nevatim Air Base in the Negev region with a hypersonic ballistic missile named “Palestine 2”. It was stated that the attack was part of operations that would continue until the attacks on Gaza ceased.

Attacks on Sdot Micha Air Base and Ben Gurion Airport (April 13, 2025): The Houthis announced that they had targeted Israel’s Sdot Micha Air Base, where nuclear-capable Jericho missiles are located, and Ben Gurion Airport with ballistic missiles. The Israeli military announced that only one of the missiles reached Israel and was destroyed by air defense systems.

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