Profile
- Type
- Short-range ballistic missile
- Conflict side
- Houthi-aligned forces
- Origin
- Yemen
- Service note
- 2017-present
Artillery
Qaher-M2 ballistic missile
Qaher-M2 is a Houthi-improved short-range ballistic missile derived from the Soviet S-75/V-755 family and used in cross-border strikes from Yemen into Saudi Arabia during the Yemen Civil War. Open-source reporting describes it as a March 2017 upgrade with a longer reported range and heavier warhead than Qaher-1.
- Conflict side
- Houthi-aligned forces
- Built in
- Yemen
Service History
- In service
- First reported in March 2017 during the Yemen Civil War.
- Used by
- Houthi-aligned forces
- Wars
- Yemen Civil War
Production History
- Designer
- Houthi Missile Research and Development Center
- Designed
- 2017
- Built in
- Yemen
- Unit cost
- Not publicly disclosed
- Produced
- 2017-present
- Number built
- Not publicly disclosed
- Variants
- Qaher-1
Specifications
- Range
- About 400 km in open-source reporting.
- Warhead
- About 350 kg conventional warhead class.
- Basis
- Re-engineered Soviet V-755 / S-75 air-defense missile family.
- Use
- Fired by Houthi forces from Yemen against Saudi targets in the Yemen Civil War.
Conflict Usage
- Yemen Civil War
- Side: Houthi-aligned forcesRole: Cross-border ballistic strike
Yemen Civil War: fired by Houthi forces in March 2017 against Saudi targets, with later launches reported toward Najran and Jizan in 2018.
Qaher-M2 ballistic missile Images
Related Weapon Systems
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Qaher-1 ballistic missileShort-range ballistic missileQaher-1 is the Houthi-aligned forces' Yemeni conversion of Soviet S-75/V-755 surface-to-air missiles into a land-attack ballistic rocket during the Yemen Civil War. The system mattered because it gave the movement a locally modified, cross-border strike option against Saudi targets starting in late 2015.
Burkan-1 ballistic missileShort-range ballistic missileBurkan-1 is the Houthi designation for a locally upgraded Scud-family short-range ballistic missile unveiled in 2016 and used for cross-border strikes from Yemen into Saudi Arabia during the Yemen Civil War.
Burkan-3 ballistic missileMedium-range ballistic missileBurkan-3 is the Houthi name for a long-range liquid-fueled ballistic missile unveiled in August 2019. Open-source analysis links it to Iran's Qiam lineage, and Houthi forces used it in Yemen Civil War strikes that expanded their reach to Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast.
Hwasong-6 ballistic missileShort-range ballistic missileThe Hwasong-6 is a North Korean Scud-C-derived short-range ballistic missile with a longer range and smaller payload than earlier Scud-B types. In the Yemen Civil War, Houthi-aligned forces used Scud-C/Hwasong-6-class missiles for cross-border ballistic strikes against Saudi Arabia, making the system part of the conflict's long-range missile and air-defense record..png?width=480)
Iranian ballistic missilesBallistic missile familyIranian ballistic missiles are the long-range strike arm of Iran's arsenal. In the United States-Iran Conflict, official U.S. releases documented Iranian ballistic-missile attacks on Al-Udeid Air Base in June 2025 and toward Kuwait and Bahrain in June 2026, while leaving the exact 2026 missile models publicly unidentified..jpg?width=480)
Qiam-1 / modified Qiam ballistic missileShort-range ballistic missileThe Qiam-1 is Iran's road-mobile, liquid-fueled short-range ballistic missile family derived from the Shahab-2. Open-source analysis links the family, including a modified Qiam variant sometimes called Qiam-2, to Iran's January 2020 retaliatory strike on U.S. forces at Ayn al-Asad Air Base during the United States-Iran Conflict.Sources
The Missile War in YemenPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies Missile Defense Project | Note: Supports Yemen Civil War background for the Qaher family, the March 2017 first-fire claim, and the reported 400 km range and 350 kg warhead for Qaher-M2. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Missiles Targeting Najran, JizanPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies Missile Defense Project | Note: Yemen Civil War: Qaher-M2 was fired by Houthi rebels at Jizan on March 29, 2017, and the article links the missile to cross-border attacks from Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Houthi Missile Targeting NajranPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies Missile Defense Project | Note: Yemen Civil War: Qaher-M2 was launched by Houthi rebels toward Najran on January 5, 2018, and intercepted by Saudi air defenses. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Great Prophet IV (26) - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary Qaher-M2 gallery image; the Commons page places the file in the Tondar-69 category, which cross-lists Qaher-M2. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Great Prophet IV (24) - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a secondary Qaher-M2 gallery image; the Commons page places the file in the Tondar-69 category, which cross-lists Qaher-M2. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Great Prophet IV (31) - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a third Qaher-M2 gallery image; the Commons page places the file in the Tondar-69 category, which cross-lists Qaher-M2. | Accessed: 2026-06-20