Abstract

In recent years, there has been a large increase in the use of uncrewed attack aircraft, or attack drones, in the Yemen conflict. At the same time, the flight endurance and payload capabilities of these uncrewed aerial vehicles seem to have increased significantly. This article presents a flight performance analysis of the Samad aircraft family operated by Ansar Allah, the Houthi rebel movement. The analysis is based on information available in the public domain and accounts for modeling uncertainties, and terrain under weather conditions typical for Yemen and Saudi Arabia. With only limited data available in the form of images, the analysis method assesses the flight performance of fixed-wing attack aircraft with high aspect ratio wings and powered by piston engines and propellers. Results demonstrate that it is highly unlikely that the Samad-2 version could reach strategic locations in Saudi Arabia when launched from Houthi-controlled territory. The analysis shows that Samad-3, however, can achieve a flight range in excess of 1800 km, bringing Riyadh and oil installations near the Persian Gulf into reach. The results of the study can be used to predict the locations from which the Samad UAV can be deployed in an attack. Furthermore, it gives insight into the increasing threat of this type of UAV when employed by non-state actors. The methods and tools developed in this study can be used to analyze the capabilities of other UAV with similar configurations.

摘要

近年来，在也门冲突中，无人驾驶攻击机或攻击无人机的使用大量增加。同时，这些无人驾驶飞行器的飞行续航能力和有效载荷能力似乎已大大提高。本文介绍了胡赛叛军Ansar Allah运营的Samad飞机系列的飞行性能分析。该分析基于公共领域中可用的信息，并说明了建模不确定性以及也门和沙特阿拉伯典型天气情况下的地形。只有图像形式的有限数据，该分析方法才能评估具有高纵横比机翼并由活塞发动机和螺旋桨提供动力的固定翼攻击机的飞行性能。结果表明，从胡塞控制地区发射时，萨马德2型导弹很难到达沙特阿拉伯的战略要地。分析表明，“萨马德3号”可以实现超过1800公里的飞行距离，从而使利雅得和波斯湾附近的石油设施可以到达。研究结果可以用来预测萨玛德无人机在攻击中的部署位置。此外，它还为非国家行动者使用这种无人机带来的日益严重的威胁提供了见识。本研究中开发的方法和工具可用于分析具有类似配置的其他无人机的功能。可以实现超过1800公里的航程，从而使利雅得和波斯湾附近的石油设施都可以触及。研究结果可以用来预测萨玛德无人机在攻击中的部署位置。此外，它还为非国家行动者使用这种无人机带来的日益严重的威胁提供了见识。本研究中开发的方法和工具可用于分析具有类似配置的其他无人机的功能。可以实现超过1800公里的航程，从而使利雅得和波斯湾附近的石油设施都可以触及。研究结果可以用来预测萨玛德无人机在攻击中的部署位置。此外，它还为非国家行动者使用这种无人机带来的日益严重的威胁提供了见识。本研究中开发的方法和工具可用于分析具有类似配置的其他无人机的功能。