Losing Drones MQ-9 Reaper: Why Hussites air defense is not as weak as it was thought-experts

This requires the revision of air operations by Israeli and the US military commands, Breaking Defense experts said. "Since October 8, 2023, Israel's Air Force lost five Hermes-450 drones and Hermes-900 from missiles issued by militants militants in south Lebanon. During the same period, the United States lost three MQ-9 reapers over Yemen through rockets Hussites, "the publication reads.

These losses resemble the battle scenario "equal to Rivne", which is not typical for Hezbolla and Yemen rebels, despite the regular use of drones in the region. Yes, until recently, the latest example of a whipped MQ-9 drone was recorded in 2019. The reasons for the efficiency of Hazbollai and Hussites air defense remain unknown. However, the report of the Washington Institute of Middle East policy states that the emergence of new air defense systems has complicated the conditions for UAVs.

The fact is that Hezbollas uses the Iranian version of the Russian Igla MAS, known as Misagh-2, as well as Khordad-15. In addition, the militants also purchased the Iranian Sayyad-2 and may be looking at the Russian "shell-C1". Experts say that the US and Israel may have to adjust their operations when using reconnaissance UAVs.

"The growing threat against medium and long flight coalition drones can indeed undermine the domination of Israel and the US in the air and jeopardize their ability to receive timely intelligence," said Senior Researcher at the Farazin Nadima Institute.

For his part, the Schaan Sheikh Anti -Retirement Defense Researcher on the Anti -Praise Defense of the Center of Strategic and International Research (CSIS) added that the union Iran's air defense systems could "restrain or weaken the operations of Israeli and American drones in Yemen and Lebanon. " However, the opinions of experts on this issue were divided.

For example, the ISW (Institute for War) Andy Parry believes that shelling of American and Israeli drones with Hussites and Hezbolla had no significant impact on operations, and US and Israeli military aircraft still impunity. and Lebanon, respectively. We will remind, on June 13, the Yemeni Hutivitsa attacked the Verbena Civilian Verbena in the Gulf, under the flag of Palau owned by Ukraine and operated by Poland. As a result of the attack on the vessel there was a fire, there were victims.