Profile
- Type
- Small unmanned aircraft system
- Conflict side
- Houthi-aligned forces
- Origin
- United States
Aircraft & UAVs
RQ-11 Raven UAV
The RQ-11 Raven is a hand-launched small unmanned aircraft system built by AeroVironment for short-range ISR. In the Yemen Civil War, Oryx lists it in Houthi-aligned inventory as 'Raqeep' inherited from pre-war Yemeni Army stocks.
- Conflict side
- Houthi-aligned forces
- Built by
- AeroVironment
- Built in
- United States
Production History
- Built by
- AeroVironment
- Built in
- United States
Specifications
- Launch method
- Hand-launched
- Endurance
- 75+ minutes
- Operational range
- 10 km
- Aircraft weight
- 2.2 kg
- Mission
- Real-time ISR and target information
Conflict Usage
- Yemen Civil War
- Side: Houthi-aligned forcesRole: Short-range reconnaissance UAV
In the Yemen Civil War, Oryx lists the RQ-11 Raven as 'Raqeep' used by Houthi-aligned forces from pre-war Yemeni Army stocks.
RQ-11 Raven UAV Images
Related Weapon Systems
Black HornetNano reconnaissance UAVThe Black Hornet is a pocket-sized military nano-UAV used by dismounted troops for short-range reconnaissance, target identification, and immediate situational awareness. In Ukraine, donated Black Hornet 3 systems give small units a low-signature day and thermal sensor that can look over obstacles, into urban terrain, and around trench lines without exposing an operator.
Hudhud-1 UAVReconnaissance UAVThe Hudhud-1 UAV is a Yemeni-made short-range reconnaissance drone that emerged during the Yemen Civil War and was documented in Houthi service as a compact battlefield surveillance platform.
MQ-9 ReaperMedium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicleThe MQ-9 Reaper is a General Atomics medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft built for persistent intelligence collection and precision strike. Larger and more powerful than the MQ-1 Predator, it combines satellite control, electro-optical and infrared sensors, laser designation, and weapons such as Hellfire missiles and guided bombs, making it a recurring U.S. and coalition platform in counterterrorism, maritime-security, and regional-strike operations.
Rased UAVFixed-wing reconnaissance UAVRased UAV is the Houthi designation for a Skywalker X-8 commercial fixed-wing drone adapted for short-range reconnaissance in the Yemen Civil War. Open-source reporting describes it as a low-cost, commercially available airframe used by Houthi fighters for battlefield surveillance rather than a purpose-built military UAV.
Samad-1 UAVReconnaissance UAVThe Samad-1 is the reconnaissance variant of the Houthi Samad UAV family, documented in UN and technical reporting during the Yemen Civil War.
Samad-2 UAVReconnaissance and loitering munition UAVThe Samad-2 is the Houthi Samad family’s longer-range UAV-X variant, documented in Yemen Civil War reporting as a reconnaissance-or-attack drone with an explosive payload and V-tail pusher configuration. Open-source assessments disagree on whether the system is indigenous or Iranian-linked, but the variant is consistently tied to Houthi long-range drone operations against coalition targets.Sources
AeroVironment Raven BPublisher: AeroVironment | Note: Supports manufacturer background and the Raven B's hand-launchable design, 75+ minute endurance, 10 km range, and 2.2 kg aircraft weight. | Accessed: 2026-06-20RQ-11B Raven fact sheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the RQ-11B Raven mission as a man-packable UAS providing real-time ISR and target information. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Houthi Drone And Missile HandbookPublisher: Oryx | Note: In the Yemen Civil War, Oryx lists the RQ-11 Raven as 'Raqeep' used by Houthi-aligned forces from pre-war Yemeni Army stocks. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Raven UAV.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary RQ-11 Raven photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Launching the RQ-11 Raven UAV (6601770).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a launch view of the RQ-11 Raven. | Accessed: 2026-06-20RQ-11 Raven 2.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for an additional RQ-11 Raven field image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20RQ-11 Raven flown during exercise Agile Spirit 19 (5637507).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a flying RQ-11 Raven image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20