News - World: A recent American report highlighted the superiority and advancement of the Yemeni Armed Forces, which have successfully shot down dozens of the largest unmanned aircraft in the US Air Force’s arsenal.

The report, published by Business Insider, stated that the repeated downing of US MQ-9 Reaper drones in Yemen demonstrates a noticeable evolution in the defensive capabilities of Sana'a’s forces and their ability to target advanced American aircraft.  

The report noted that the threats facing medium-altitude drones, such as the American Reaper, could render them obsolete, as these types of drones suffer increasing losses in the war with Yemen.  

The report mentioned that "during the so-called Global War on Terror, the MQ-9 Reaper was the most feared weapon, thanks to its missiles and ability to remain airborne for 24 hours. Along with its older sibling, the MQ-1 Predator, it became a symbol of remote-controlled warfare in the drone era. However, the skies are no longer favorable for the Reaper."

It is worth noting that the Reaper, manufactured by General Atomics, has a wingspan of 66 feet—nearly double that of small manned aircraft like the Cessna 172. Many of these large, expensive drones have been shot down over Yemen, with each Reaper costing $30 million.  

The report suggested that Yemen’s actions are pushing militaries to reconsider purchasing expensive, long-endurance, medium-altitude drones like the Reaper. Instead, it may be more practical to acquire smaller, cheaper drones that can be more easily replaced.  

The Yemeni Armed Forces have shot down at least 15 Reaper drones over Yemen since 2023, with seven destroyed in March and April 2025 alone—resulting in losses exceeding $500 million. The report concluded that the threat to Reaper drones could be even greater against a more advanced military with larger and more precise air defenses."