NYN | News
In a development raising concerns for the U.S., Israel, and Western countries, a prominent expert at the Washington Institute, which is linked to U.S. intelligence, has confirmed that Sanaa government forces possess advanced air defense systems that are difficult for the U.S. military to detect and track. These systems enable them to shoot down advanced “MQ-9” drones and other unmanned aircraft, reflecting a significant shift in their military capabilities.
According to a report published by NBC News, military and security expert Michael Knights stated that the Houthis have upgraded their defense systems with more advanced weapons in recent months. He emphasized that this enhances their ability to deliver precise strikes against U.S. targets.
Knights added, “We know that the Houthis are working on further improving their air defenses.” He pointed out that “the new missiles and systems the Houthis possess, such as the 358 surface-to-air missiles and SA-2, are capable of shooting down a Reaper drone or any other unmanned aircraft.”
He explained that Sanaa forces rely on using electro-optical missiles and systems, which are entirely passive and difficult to track because they do not emit any signature before launching, making their detection a major challenge.
The report also highlighted that the U.S. military faces difficulties dealing with some of the air defense systems in Houthi hands, due to their use of optical technologies rather than radar to locate targets. These systems do not have a radar footprint, making them extremely hard to detect.
The report further noted that in recent years, U.S. adversaries have succeeded in jamming the communication link between MQ-9 drones and their operators on the ground. The U.S. communicates with drones via satellites, and when the communication link between the drone and the satellite is jammed, operators lose control of the aircraft, making it vulnerable.
Knights affirmed that the Houthis have denied the U.S. Navy and several commercial ships the ability to operate in the Red Sea, due to the significant risks posed by anti-ship ballistic missiles and surface-to-air missiles. He stated, “They have denied us the Red Sea as a place to conduct aircraft carrier operations.”
Gulf states have expressed concern over the development of Yemeni missiles, with their media questioning the reasons behind the U.S.’s failure to counter them. These countries seem surprised by the effectiveness of the weapons used by Sanaa forces in downing advanced U.S. drones like the MQ-9, which have been flying over Yemen for years.
There are growing fears that confidence in U.S. weapons may be shaken as a result of these developments. Previously, Gulf accusations of supplying weapons to Yemen were primarily directed at Iran, but Russia and China have recently been added to the list of suspects.
