Houthis Shot Down Saudi-Led Coalition Wing Loong II Combat Drone Over Northern Yemen
On March 21, the Houthis (Ansar Allah) announced that they had shot down a Chinese-made Wing Loong II combat drone of the Saudi-led coalition over the northern Yemeni province of al-Jawf.
Brigade General Yahya Sari, a spokesman for the group, said in a statement that the drone was shot down with a “locally-made” surface-to-air missile.
“The [Yemeni] armed forces affirm that they are ready and present to confront any attempts to breach Yemeni sovereignty or any attack by the coalition of aggression,” the statement reads.
The Wing Loong II was developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for use as an aerial reconnaissance and precision strike platform. It has an endurance of 32 hours and an operational range of up to 4,000 kilometers. The drone is capable of carrying up to 12 anti-tank guided missiles and has a maximum speed of 370 kilometers per hour. In addition, it can be equipped with a satellite data-link that provides it with a long range strike capability.
Wing Loong II combat drones are known to be in service with the militaries of both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
This was the first time the Houthis have announced shooting down a coalition drone since May of last year. Back then, the group shot down a total of four drones. The group continued to de-escalate even after a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations came to an end last October.
If confirmed, the downing of the Wing Loong II could hinder ongoing efforts to boost the Yemen peace process. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran, who recently reached agreement to restore relations, are reportedly pushing in this direction.
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