YAF Defy US Air Superiority Amid Mounting Drone Losses

By Staff, Agencies

US officials told Fox News on Friday that the US military has yet to secure air superiority over the Armed Forces [YAF] in Yemen, despite ongoing airstrikes.

The YAF continue to successfully shoot down high-value MQ-9 Reaper drones, severely hampering US operations.

Since March 3, the YAF have successfully downed at least seven MQ-9 drones, limiting US capacity to conduct surveillance, battlefield assessments, and target key rebel leaders, CNN reported, citing multiple US officials.

Officials noted that the Yemeni Armed Forces are becoming increasingly skilled at targeting these drones, further complicating US operations.

The Pentagon aimed to degrade the Armed Forces' air defenses within 30 days and move into a second phase focused on intelligence and targeting senior leaders. However, consistent drone losses have stalled these efforts.

Moreover, US officials confirmed that the YAF are becoming increasingly effective at targeting the drones, disrupting US intelligence, reconnaissance, and damage assessments, which rely heavily on aerial platforms.

Over six weeks, the Yemeni forces launched 77 attack drones, 30 cruise missiles, 24 ballistic missiles, and 23 surface-to-air missiles at US forces, the Red Sea, and "Israel", according to US estimates.

A report earlier today by the Associated Press [AP] reports that YAF shot down seven US Reaper drones in less than six weeks, causing losses exceeding $200 million for the US amid its intensified aggression against Yemen.

Citing military officials, the US news agency stated that three of the drones were brought down in the past week alone, reflecting an enhanced capability by YAF to intercept unmanned aircraft flying over their territory.

The downed drones were either conducting attack operations or surveillance missions, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. While the cause of these incidents is believed to be “hostile fire", investigations are still underway, the report added.

These advanced drones, manufactured by General Atomics, cost approximately $30 million each and typically operate at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet [12,100 meters].