Samad-1 UAV

Conflict Usage

Yemen Civil War

Side: Houthi-aligned forcesRole: Reconnaissance UAVreconnaissanceUAV

Used by Houthi-aligned forces in the Yemen Civil War as a reconnaissance UAV; UN reporting identifies Samad-1 as the reconnaissance variant of the Samad family.

Samad-1 UAV Images

Related Weapon Systems

Aircraft & UAVsHudhud-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.

Aircraft & UAVsMQ-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.

Aircraft & UAVsRased 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.

Aircraft & UAVsRQ-11 Raven UAVSmall unmanned aircraft systemThe 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.

Aircraft & UAVsSamad-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.

Aircraft & UAVsA1-CM FuriaFixed-wing tactical reconnaissance UAVThe A1-CM Furia is a Ukrainian electric fixed-wing tactical UAV built by Athlon Avia for reconnaissance and artillery fire correction. Developed after Ukraine's 2014 need for organic battlefield ISR, it gives Ukrainian units a portable sensor platform for locating targets, transmitting video, and adjusting indirect fire under wartime electronic-warfare pressure.

Sources