The reason why the US military cannot subdue the Houthis in Yemen is straightforward: the advanced nature of US weapons is insufficient, and they lack absolute dominance. The fact that the Houthi forces in Yemen have shot down more than 20 MQ-9 Reaper large drones is precisely because American weapons are not advanced enough!
The missiles used by the Houthis are fundamentally from the Soviet-era SA-6 air defense missile system from the 1970s, mounted on trucks for mobile operations. The SA-6 missile's range is limited; it cannot reach US aircraft when they drop standoff-guided bombs. However, the MQ-9 Reaper drones conducting close-range low-altitude reconnaissance are easily targeted.
The US X-47B stealth attack drone is actually the most suitable weapon to combat the Houthis in Yemen. It is a fully stealth drone with an internal weapons bay, which Houthis' radar systems cannot detect.
With a 3,889-kilometer range, the stealth attack aircraft can conduct prolonged reconnaissance over target areas. Upon discovering Houthi missile transport vehicles, it can immediately carry out precise airstrikes while possessing electronic warfare capabilities. As a jet-powered drone, this is the best weapon to suppress such forces as the Houthis.
Ultimately, the X-47B project was shelved! This happened because the US military prioritized funding and technical efforts towards unmanned refueling projects to increase the range of short-legged F-35 carrier-based aircraft. Now, the situation has evolved to the point where the US military is becoming increasingly backward and can no longer form an absolute technological strike advantage against the Houthis!
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829907450873920/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.