Middle East missiles, large contracts and space ambitions: 2025 review
There was no shortage of news in the Middle East in 2025.
MQ-9
US military confirms MQ-9 drone shot down off the coast of Yemen
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen reportedly shot down an American military drone, the MQ-9 Reaper, near the country’s coastline. The incident occurred as Houthi rebels launched a series of missile strikes, including cruise and ballistic miss…
Netherlands orders more Reaper drones
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) will double the number of MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Aircraft they will procure, taking the total order from four to eight aircraft. The first four MQ-9A Block 5 Reapers and associated Ground Control Stations were de…
US Marine drone squadron reaches MQ-9A initial operational capability
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing has announced that Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 3, hosted a unit-led ceremony to commemorate the squadron’s years of dedicated effort and work to reach Initial Operational Capability with the MQ-9A Extended…
US Air Force tests jamming pod on MQ-9 drone
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has announced that the U.S. Air Force demonstrated its MQ-9 drone integrated with the Angry Kitten jamming pod at a test this spring. As noted by the company, the U.S. Air Force flew a remotely pilote…
Pentagon accuses Russia of ‘very concerning’ behavior in Syria
The U.S. Air Force says Russian fighter jets flew dangerously close to several US drones over Syria. Three Russian Su-35 fighter jets intercepted three U.S. Air Force MQ-9 “Reaper” unmanned aerial vehicles in northeastern Syria on Wednesday…
F-16s and drones put on impressive “elephant walk” in New Mexico
Forty-nine fighter jets and drones assigned to the 49th Wing lined the runway for an incredible display of airpower at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The “elephant walk” occurred on April 21st, with F-16 Viper fighter jets and MQ-9 Re…
Russian fighter jets crash into MQ-9 drone over Black Sea
U.S. European Command released declassified footage of a Russian Su-27 aircraft conducting an unsafe/unprofessional intercept of a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 in international airspace over the Black Sea, March 14. Two Russian Su-27 fighter aircraft conducted …
Russian jet collides with US drone over Black Sea in ‘unprofessional act’
“This is probably my biggest worry, both there [the Black Sea region] and the Pacific, is that an aggressive Russia or China pilot or vessel captain or something gets too close — doesn’t realize where they are, causes a collision and it’s two in the mo…
Poland receives MQ-9 Reaper drones
Poland has taken delivery of MQ-9A Reaper multi-mission, turboprop-powered intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drones, according to the country’s Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak. “MQ-9A Reaper MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endura…