The National Interest: US MQ-9 reaper drones lose combat prestige after repeated downing in Yemen

WORLD, June 04 (YPA) – America’s most advanced drones have lost their combat prestige in Yemen after being repeatedly shot down by Yemen’s armed forces, US magazine “The National Interest” reported.

In a report, the magazine noted that Sana’a forces have successfully downed a significant number of MQ-9 Reaper drones using surface-to-air missiles—particularly during the air campaign launched by US President Donald Trump—exposing growing vulnerabilities in the design and performance of these aircraft in modern conflict zones.

The report, published by the Nixon Center, highlighted that the drone, once known for decades as the “beast of the sky,” has now fallen behind newer unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in terms of technology and maneuverability, while becoming increasingly susceptible to ground-based counterattacks.

The report emphasized that the continued downing of these drones by Sana’a forces underscores their declining effectiveness and raises questions about their ability to keep pace with evolving defense challenges.

US reports indicated that Washington is currently developing a next-generation multirole drone, dubbed “MQ-Next,” intended to replace the MQ-9.

Driven by ambition, Washington is pursuing a strategy to reclaim its aerial dominance against adversaries employing unconventional warfare tactics—particularly after Sanaa forces achieved a record by downing 25 drones and three advanced F-18 fighter jets in less than two years.

The cost of each Reaper is roughly $32 million, according to the report.

@E.Y.M