In Pictures.. The Yemeni Army Officially Reveals Its Capabilities in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

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Last Friday, the skies of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, witnessed the flight of drones belonging to the Yemeni army near vital sites of the "Houthi group" in unusual operations that prompted the group to denounce and threaten retaliation, amid the circulation of videos showing citizens attempting to shoot them down.

The Yemeni army officially unveiled its field and media capabilities in unmanned aerial vehicles, breaking the Houthi monopoly on this weapon, which has relied on Iranian support and supplies since 2017.

The Yemeni army continued to announce operations in Houthi-controlled areas, and the dissemination of military media about the attacks inflicted a moral and propaganda defeat on the Iran-backed group, in addition to human losses and combat equipment.

How has the Yemeni army developed its unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities, what types and capabilities does it possess, and what are its supply sources?

The Yemeni army revealed, for the first time, the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles at the beginning of 2023, after nearly two years of actually introducing these capabilities into service during the response to the fiercest military campaign targeting Marib, carried out by the Houthi group with Iranian support and field participation from Hezbollah and Tehran-aligned groups.

Experts say that the army's introduction of this force, even at lower levels, effectively contributed to repelling the group's attacks and destroying its power and mobile capabilities on the ground.

The "Defense Line" platform, which specializes in Yemeni military and security affairs, reported that military sources, who requested anonymity, stated that the Yemeni army leadership began efforts to develop unmanned aerial capabilities and train engineering competencies and operational elements since 2020, in response to the pressure of attacks and the requirements of modern warfare. Central brigades and units were formed, which were later structured into brigade frameworks, currently reaching 4 brigades, comprising several squadrons and groups.

The military leadership reopened the College of Aviation and Air Defense in Marib in late 2023, and established a drone wing within the college's departments, which graduated its first batches this year.

According to a military source who spoke to the platform, the army leadership obtained facilities for supplying some parts and signing purchase contracts with foreign companies, and some supplies were obtained through unofficial intermediaries from the commercially available global market and dual-use items.

Regarding the operational capabilities of the army, a source, requesting to remain anonymous, stated that the army has sufficient capabilities with ranges covering all areas under the control of the Houthi group, capable of carrying out reconnaissance and offensive missions and reaching targets in Sana'a, Saada, and any point in that geography.

The Yemeni army's arsenal includes various types of drones and ranges as follows:

Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drones and multi-rotor drones: These include tactical and reconnaissance models, among which is a type believed to be the (CP25 VTOL) made in China with thermal optics and a range of 30 km, and reconnaissance models (DJI Matrice 350 RTK).

Suicidal and offensive drones (FPV and Kamikaze): FPV models made from fiber optics, and other offensive models capable of carrying from one bomb to 5 locally developed mortar bombs.

Winged aircraft: Short-range reconnaissance drones with an integrated design, similar to the Chinese model (Skywalker X8).

Last July witnessed a significant transformation with the announcement of the "Aiban" and "Naqam" aircraft designated for long-range operations, which are believed to be the local version of the SkyWasp drone manufactured through a Saudi-American defense partnership, with an operational range of up to 600 km powered by gasoline or turbojet engines.

This aircraft appeared in footage circulated by activists during its flight over Sana'a, and it was used for the first time in an offensive operation targeting Houthi positions in the capital.

Visual inspection indicates that the aircraft's characteristics resemble the Iranian drone (Shahed-131), and that it is a model of "SkyWasp" with medium-range capabilities.

The Yemeni forces also rely on reactivating components and parts that were seized by security forces while being smuggled to the Houthis through land and sea ports, as an officer from the Ministry of Defense confirmed the utilization of these shipments in developing local models, including aircraft resembling the Iranian "Samad/Sayyad" models and Ababil-2, and using them to support the fronts.