Click to see full-size image. (SR2Vector)
Saudi Arabia has used its SKYWASP one-way attack drone in a strike on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, marking the first known combat use of the newly developed system by the kingdom.
The drone was spotted flying over the Houthi-held capital on September 18 as Saudi Arabia intensified its air campaign against the group following its recent advances along Yemen’s western coast.
SKYWASP was developed through SR2Vector, a joint venture formed by Saudi defense company SR2 Defense Systems and U.S. drone developer Vector. The partnership was established earlier this year as part of a broader effort to manufacture advanced unmanned systems inside the kingdom.
The drone is designed as a one-way attack system intended to reach targets at long distances before delivering its payload.
Its design mimics that of Iran’s Shahed-136, featuring a delta-wing configuration with a blended fuselage, a payload section in the nose and a rear-mounted pusher propeller.
SKYWASP has a stated range of up to about 1,500 kilometers, putting targets deep inside neighboring countries within its reach from launch points in Saudi Arabia. The drone uses a satellite-aided inertial navigation system with high resistance to jamming.
The drone represents a serious expansion of Saudi Arabia’s military capabilities. Riyadh has long relied heavily on imported drones.
Its introduction, however, is unlikely by itself to change the military balance in Yemen. The Houthis have built a deeply decentralized military structure over years of war, allowing personnel and weapons to be dispersed across a large and difficult terrain very quickly.
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none of my comments get though on the site. lets see this if this one does. why are the houthis taking orders from usrael