Persian Gulf & Middle East Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

I don’t think it would be too much of a technical challenge for China to integrate AAMs onto its drones, certainly not shorter ranged IR guided AAMs.

That may be both a huge sales opportunity, as well as additions additional anti-drone capabilities to the PLA.

Insyead of using expensive manned fighters for anti-drone CAP, you can use long endurance drones instead. With their standard EO package, they would also be able to confirm ID before engaging.

China is already working on radar carrying early warning drones, which would complement these AA drones nicely.

silentlurker said:

Were any interceptors were fired? It doesn't look like it from the posts

Click to expand...

Footage of the interception I mentioned.

Oh I see, didn't watch the full clip thought it was just the two missiles. I guess the flash at the end was the intercept?

Yemen Army military exhibition

Displayed a variety of ballistic and cruise missiles, drones, mines, rifles and other military equipment used to defend their land against the Saudi invasion.

A good graphic of the new weapons unveiled by the Yemeni Army yesterday.

Yemeni Armed Forces announce successful drone strike against Saudi Arabia's Aramco site in Riyadh

Yemeni Armed Forces officially announced that, in retaliation to the escalation of the brutal aggression and the unjust blockade on Yemen imposed by the invading Saudi forces, the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out the Operation Sixth of Shaaban, with six drones targeting and successfully striking Aramco facilities in Riyadh.

The Yemeni Armed Forces stated that their operations would continue and escalate as long as the Saudi regime's aggression and siege continued.


The Saudi Ministry of Energy has confirmed the attack. Interestingly, they only did this after the Yemeni Armed Forces officially confirmed and took credit for the attack (which was many hours after the attack).

Initial low-res satellite footage reveals significant damage to Aramco facilities in Riyadh, proving a successful strike by the Yemeni Armed Forces as claimed yesterday.

Saudi Aramco’s Profit Fell 44 Percent in 2020​

Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, said on Sunday that its net income last year had fallen by 44 percent, to $49 billion, as lower oil prices stemming from the pandemic cut into earnings.

The company’s chief executive, Amin H. Nasser, described 2020 accompanying the earnings data as “one of the most challenging years in recent history.”

But Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer, said that it would stick by a pledge to pay a $75 billion dividend. Nearly all of the payment will go to the Saudi government, which owns about 98 percent of the company.

The data released on Sunday showed that Aramco is paying out more money in dividends than it is earning from oil activities. Free cash flow, a measure of earnings produced after expenses, was also $49 billion, meaning, in effect, the company was borrowing $26 billion to pay shareholders.

In another reflection of last year’s tumult in the oil markets, the company also cut capital spending by 18 percent compared with 2019, to $27 billion. Aramco said it expected capital expenditures in 2021 to be around $35 billion, less than its previous guidance of $40 billion to $45 billion.

There is nothing special about drones that makes them less likely to be shot down.