Iranian proxies shot down a $30m US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Red Sea using a Soviet 2K12 Kub surface-to-air missile system

The US regularly uses MQ-9 Reaper multirole drones in the Middle East. This year, Russian aircraft damaged two UAVs, but they managed to return to base. But the Iranian-backed Houthis managed to sink one Reaper in the Red Sea.

Here's What We Know

The destruction of the UAV was first reported by Iranian-controlled media. Then a video was published that shows the destruction of the aerial target. A Soviet 2K12 Kub surface-to-air missile system was used to strike the $30 million UAV.

The US Institute of Naval Research later confirmed the destruction of the MQ-9 Reaper, citing an official from the US Department of Defence. The incident took place on 8 November 2023. The drone was flying in international airspace over international waters off the coast of Yemen when the missile hit.

Source: USNI News