UAE is safe: Defense systems defeat Houthi terrorist missiles

In a move to disturb public peace in the Middle East, the terrorist Houthi militia seeks from time to time to target the United Arab Emirates with ballistic missiles and drones.

The latest of these targets was a failed attempt by the Iranian-backed militia, where the UAE Ministry of Defense announced that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi group at dawn on Monday, January 31. The attack did not result in any losses, as the remnants of the ballistic missile fell outside the populated areas.

The ministry announced the success of the UAE Air Force and the coalition leadership in destroying the launch site and platform in Yemen after successfully locating it. The ministry also confirmed that it is prepared to deal with any threats and that it takes all necessary measures to protect the country from all attacks.

Saudi Arabia condemns the attacks

In turn, the Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Houthi militia’s targeting of the UAE and reiterated Riyadh's support for Abu Dhabi in all measures it takes to maintain the country's security.

The ministry renewed the Kingdom's full solidarity with the UAE and its support and standing with it against every threat to its security and stability, as well as its support in all measures taken by the UAE to preserve its security and the safety of its citizens and residents.

Proper investment

The success of the heroes of the armed forces in confronting the missile attack confirms that the UAE is reaping the fruits of interest in building a developed national army capable of protecting the country's capabilities and wealth and defending its lands, waters and skies against every threat or aggression.

The UAE ranked 36th globally and fifth in the Arab world among 140 countries, according to the Global Fire Power website, with a classification of 0.5859, and the strength of the UAE army is 77,000 soldiers, while the number of active service members reaches 65,000 soldiers.

In terms of ground forces, the UAE has 354 tanks, 9,255 armored vehicles, 183 self-propelled guns, 76 field guns, and 149 rocket launchers.

The UAE owns 554 aircraft, which places it 20th in the world in terms of air power. These aircraft include 100 interceptor and attack aircraft, 20 attack aircraft, 39 transport aircraft, 146 training aircraft, and 23 aircraft for special tasks, which placed it in the 14th rank globally, in addition to three refueling aircraft, 223 helicopters and 30 attack helicopters. The UAE also owns 79 naval units, including nine cruisers, 38 patrol ships and two minesweepers.

Strong defense systems

Abu Dhabi operates the US-made MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD long-range air defense missiles, in addition to the Russian medium-range Pantsir-S1 missiles.

The MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 is a new missile with different missions, size and characteristics produced by Lockheed Martin (PAC-2 production Raytheon), and it was specifically produced to repel ballistic missiles, tactical missiles and cruise missiles, which was very successful and which entered history led by the Saudi Royal Air Defense as the world's first reliable and tested air defense system that shoots down hundreds of ballistic, cruise and drone targets.

The missile was developed with a hit-to-kill technology. Through its advanced guidance methods and by taking advantage of its large kinetic energy, it targets the hostile missile by directly hitting it and destroying it.

The Pantsir-S1 is a Russian defense system that hunts targets, as it is anti-aircraft and capable of hitting ground targets. It was established in 1994 and delivered to Russian forces in 2010.

In November 2021, the Emirati company Halkin unveiled the SkyKnight missile system during the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX 2021), to become the first air defense system produced by the UAE locally.

Defense News magazine said that the SkyKnight system can counter missiles, artillery shells, mortars, drones and fixed-wing aircraft at a range of more than 10 kilometers.

THAAD

According to a report by Defence News, the American air defense system THAAD succeeded in its first test in combat conditions, explaining that the system owned by the UAE armed forces shot down a medium-range ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia against an oil facility in Abu Dhabi.

This is the first case of using THAAD, which is produced by Lockheed Martin, in a combat operation, according to the military news website, and the UAE was the first country to obtain THAAD from the United States and trained the first units to operate this system in 2015 and 2016.