By Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans
Amidst a conflict that has by now outlived the comforts of its international participants, Yemen's Houthi rebels claim to have developed new missiles and drones to use on the Saudi-led Arab Coalition supporting the government. Much of the weaponry in question appears to be 'Made in Iran' and have been utilised before in combat in the previous months and years, and there is an obvious propaganda aspect to the exhibition for the purpose of which various types of weaponry now no longer in use have been held back. Nevertheless, the threat posed by the Houthi's ballistic missiles and UAVs is evidently escalating, at a time when the intervention seems to be essentially at a standstill.
The newly-unveiled 'Wa'aed' loitering munition, an Iranian type of loitering munition that strongly resembles those used in in the 2019 Abqaiq–Khurais attack on Saudi Arabia and several attacks on the country since.
The newly-unveiled Samad-4 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) with two unguided projectiles under its wings. Although they are profilic users of loitering munitions, this is the first type of UCAV to enter service with the Houthis. Though its projectiles are unguided, it is still perfectly suited for attacking enemy bases, storage facilities and troop concentrations.
The newly-unveiled 'Khatif' loitering munition. This is the smallest type of loitering munition unveiled by the Houthis so far, and due to its short effective range is likely limited to targets inside Yemen.
The newly unveilved 'Shihab' loitering munition. Not much is known about this design other than that is clearly based on the Samad series of UAVs.
The 'Samad-2' loitering munition, which had already been unveiled in 2019.
A 'Samad-3' loitering munition (front) and a Samad-1 reconnaissance drone (rear). Like all of the aforementioned Samads, these are Iranian-designed as well.
Qasef-1 and Qasef-2K loitering munitions, which are based on the Iranian Ababil-2T UAV.
The newly-unveiled Mersad reconnaissance drone, which shares the same overall layout as the U.S. RQ-21 Blackjack small tactical unmanned air system.
The Rased-1 reconnaissance drone. Like several other ''indigenous drone designs'' unveiled by the Houthis before, this is actually a commercially obtainable model (Skywalker X8 UAV).
The newly-unveiled Rujum quadcopter that can be armed with up to six small mortar grenades. Perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, the Rujum is an imported civilian model (YD6-1000S) that has been adapted for military use.
The newly-unveiled 'Nabaa' surveillance quadcopter, which appears to be an imported civilian model as well.
The Houthis also unveiled a number of new guided rockets and missiles, including the 'Saeer' and 'Qasim' guided rockets, the 'Qasim-2' ballistic missile and the 'Quds-2' cruise missile. These were put on display alongside several proven designs already unveiled several years ago, these being the Badr-1 unguided rocket, the Badr-1P guided rocket, the Zelzal-3 artillery rocket and the Borkan-H2 and Qaher-M2 ballistic missiles.
The Borkan-H2 ([Components] supplied by Iran. Based on the Qiam ballistic missile).
The newly-unveiled 'Saeer' and 'Qasim' guided rockets.
The Zelzal-3 (a cannibalised 9M21 rocket of the 9K52 Luna-M system inherited from pre-war Yemeni Army stocks) is shown alongside various types of unguided rockets. Although the 9K52 Luna-M system had already been retired by Yemen before the Houthi takeover of the country, the latter set out to scavenge as many of the 9M21 rocket parts that hadn't yet been scrapped as it could and used these to produce two types of short-ranged artillery rockets out of them: The Zelzal-3 and the Samood. Owing to the limited parts available, only small numbers of each type were produced, and the example presented here was likely only shown for propaganda purposes.
The newly-unveiled Nakal ballistic missile, which appears to be an improved version of the Badr-F that was already unveiled back in April 2019. Contrary to most other missile designs unveiled by the Houthis in recent years, this missile has not yet been linked to a known Iranian design.
The newly-unveiled Qasim-2 ballistic missile.
The Qaher-M2 ballistic missile, which constitutes little more than a modified Soviet V-750 missile of the S-75 SAM system inherited from pre-war Yemeni Army stocks. After the Houthi takeover in Yemen, large numbers of V-750 missiles were repurposed as ground-to-ground missiles under the designation Qaher-1 and Qaher-M2. Almost all of these were subsequently spent in combat, and the display of the Qaher-M2 is closer to a propaganda stunt than a genuine attempt at showing off current capabilities.
The Zolfaghar ([Components] supplied by Iran. Based on the Qiam ballistic missile). This missile was earlier given the designation of Borkan-3 by the Houthis.
The newly-unveiled Quds-2 cruise missile, which is a variant of the Soumar family of cruise missiles supplied by Iran.
The Houthis also showcased no less than eleven naval mines. For more on the Houthi's usage of naval mines be sure to check out HI Sutton's article on Houthi naval capabilities.
 |
The Karrar-3, the Asif-4, 3, 2 and 1 and the Thaqib |
 |
The Uwais |
 |
The al-Nazi'at |
 |
The Mujahid |
 |
The Karrar-1 |
 |
The Karrar-2 |
 |
The Karrar-3 |
 |
The Shawaz and Thaqib |
 |
Two 8mm Saarem sniper rifles (upgraded Yugoslav Zastava M48s) with bayonets fitted, an Iranian 12.7mm AM-50 AMR and a 12.7mm Khatef AMR |
 |
Another type of 12.7mm AMR designated as Khatef |
 |
Two 14.5mm Ashtars (left and middle) and a 23mm Zolfhagar-1 (right) AMR |
 |
A rear view of the two Ashtar AMRs |
 |
Another view of the Zolfhagar-1 with a 20mm Hasem AMR located directly behind it |
 |
The 30mm Qassem AMR, arguably the strongest and also the most cumbersome weapon of its kind in the world |
A display of ''indigenous'' RPGs together with some of the types of rocket propelled grenades they fire. The much dreaded RPG-29 seems not to be the original Russian design, but rather an Iranian simplified copy that has meanwhile also found its way to Iraq and Syria. [1] Likewise, the RPG-7s are suspiciously similar to several designs previously intercepted on their way to Yemen from Iran, and were likely supplied outright rather than produced in Yemen.
Three ''indigenously-manufactured'' mortars were also put on display: The 60mm Rujoom-60, 82mm Rujoom-82 and 120mm Rojoom-120. Like the aforementioned RPG launchers, the mortars appear to be either Iranian designs or foreign designs delivered by Iran. The mortar rounds used by them might well have been indigenously produced however.
Houthi Drone and Missile Handbook
List of Iranian Arms and Equipment Supplied to Houthi Militants in Yemen since 2015