A U.S. MQ-9 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) was shot down by the Yemeni Air Defense Force, an ally of the Houthis, while it was conducting a sortie over the western province of al-Hudaydah, where a UN-sponsored ceasefire is implemented.
The Houthis media wing released a video and several photos showing the remains of the U.S. UCAV, which was likely being operated by the U.S. Air Force or even the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
A military source told the Yemeni al-Masirah TV that the UCAV was “engaged in hostilities” over the western coast of Yemen.
The MQ-9 “Reaper,” which was first presented by General Atomics in 2007, has a rage of more than 1,800km and an endurance of up to 14 hours. The UCAV can carry more than 1,000kg of precision-guided weapons.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Sari, a spokesman of the pro-Houthis wing of the Yemeni Armed Forces, said that the U.S. UCAV was targeted with a “suitable ground-to-air missile.”
“There is constant development of air defenses to protect all Yemeni airspace and achieve full sovereignty,” the spokesman added.
The Houthis possess several types of man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). However, large drones like the Reaper are usually shot down with modified air-to-air missiles, such as Soviet-made, infrared-guided R-27T and R-73E.
Last March, the Yemeni Air Defense Force shoot down an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over Sanaa with a modified missile. Few weeks later, a MQ-1C Gray Eagle UCAV was shoot down, also over the capital.
The Yemeni Air Defense Force growing capabilities have become a real threat to the U.S. aerial operations over Yemen, which are meant to support the Saudi-led coalition.
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Sweet.
Look at this, another complete waste of money, shot down by flip-flop guy:
The USAF operated 195 MQ-9 Reapers as of September 2016, and plans to keep the MQ-9 in service into the 2030s.
…
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper.
MQ-9 Reaper / Predator B
Number built 163 as of 2014
Program cost US$11.8 billion
Unit cost US$16.9 million (flyaway cost, 2013)
Developed from General Atomics MQ-1 Predator
I’m just thinking about how many ground troops that same cost could hire for a year, and more so, how it could make america great again FOR REAL!
I did the math. 6
for real in caps is code for my head is so far up my azz I gotta wear a snorkel.
I just wish tRump would actually make america great rather than scam us. We need more money for our schools. Some kids can’t go to them because they aren’t funded enough.
It is very hard to live without hope. My hope lives in the vast majority of decent people who see no future in endless hostilities.
As for any politician it would seem that the system is so corrupted that if, a big if, they had any integrity initially it is a death sentence to keep. They get with the program or they go away.
Those flip flop conceal antennas they use for alien comm.
Christ, are they the ones taking over Planet Earth ?…..I will not shout and scream Allah Snackbar every second of the day… ooh… nooo. Allah snackbar, Allah snackbar.
You seem to have flunked that section of the sensitivity session.
Yeah sorry, it was supposed to be a joke; it failed as usual.
“Those flip flop’s conceal antennas they use for alien comm.” >>>… I wrote “are they the ones taking over Planet Earth”
Forget it, I wa shit, apologies.
No a bit of an overreach perhaps. Now if you meant the aliens are taking over planet earth using some of its poorest inhabitants as their emissaries, I like the logic and my only gripe is what took them so long.
If their religion in anyway contributes to their success I can only say that indeed God is great!
In the same breath one must ask what is up with those Goddam Neocons.
After all he wrote the meek shall inherit the world and I don’t think he was talking about Trump.
Sir, you read my mind, to the word, exactly as I was thinking.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/1f/4c/e6/1f4ce603e6290d33b3e784c4eeac0c4d.jpg
It was such a bad comment, I down-ticked myself.
Hey man a lot of that stuff would make excellent boat anchors that’s worthy!
I think that can be counted on – “export versions”.
the pilot was reprimanded for being drugged on duty.
reassigned to play “America’s Army 3” for 30 days.
Probably crated up and on its way to Iran by now
haahahha very nice houthis, keep downing anything and everything you can, and i like the victory dance at the end :)))
Shot out of the sky by a Misagh-2?
The Yemeni is also re-constituting its Soviet era SAMS with newer technology and that is the reason the Saudi scum hardly operate over Yemen. They just bomb soft targets like hospitals and schools and run away.
Did that guy say, “No problem we’ll have this baby flying again in a month?”
The shooting down of Americunt drones and planes in Yemen has also been an intel bonanza for Iran and Russia who can examine the vulnerabilities of these aircraft and devise counter measures. The Ansarallah now have access to a variety of manpads that has restricted the Saudi cowards airstrikes in civilians.