US MQ-9 Reaper drone launches missile attack on UFO
Table of contents
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), commonly known as unidentified flying objects (UFOs)UFOThe exploration of the unknown has long been a core issue in humanity's exploration of the unknown. September 9, 2025U.S. House of RepresentativesThe House Oversight Committee held a hearing titled "Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection." During the hearing, Republican Representative Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) released previously unseen video footage showing a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone tracking a bright, shimmering spherical object off the coast of Yemen on October 30, 2024, before another drone launched an AGM-114 Hellfire missile at the object. The video shows the missile bouncing off after impact, while the object continued its trajectory, sparking global shock and discussion. This video, provided by a whistleblower and not yet confirmed by the Department of Defense, has become a new milestone in the UAP investigation.
MQ-9 Development and Operational Milestones
| Time period | date | Event Description | significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early stage of development (1995-2001) | February 2, 2001 | Successful maiden flight | This laid the foundation for the MALE drone and enhanced U.S. military technology. |
| Operational Deployment (2002-2010) | May 1, 2007 | Officially put into service | Entering actual combat will change the model of the war on terror. |
| October 27, 2007 | First armed strike | Prove hunting capabilities and accelerate global deployment. | |
| September 13, 2009 | The first one was destroyed | Exposing system vulnerabilities prompts upgrades. | |
| Upgrades and expansions (2011-2020) | October 22, 2013 | 2 million flight hours | Accumulate experience to prove reliability. |
| June 2017 | Block 5 upgrade | Enhance sensing and automation. | |
| September 19, 2018 | Air-to-air test | Expand the scope of the mission. | |
| Recent events (2021-2025) | March 14, 2023 | Black Sea crash | The impact of geopolitical conflicts. |
| October 30, 2024 | Yemen UAP incident | The first firing at UAP has sparked an investigation. | |
| September 9, 2025 | Congressional Release Video | Improve UAP transparency. |
Detailed analysis of the 2024 Yemen UAP incident
On October 30, 2024, off the coast of Yemen, a U.S. MQ-9 drone, conducting a patrol mission in the Red Sea, detected a bright, spherical orb flying at high speed in a straight line. Another MQ-9 was authorized to launch a Hellfire missile. Video footage shows the missile hitting the orb and bouncing off, while the orb continued its journey seemingly undamaged. Representative Burleigh Burleigh played this footage at a hearing on September 9, 2025, stating that "the missile bounced off, and the orb continued flying."
Witness George Knapp described the missile as "hitting the UFO and bouncing off, then continuing forward." A Defense Department spokesperson declined to comment. AARO analysis suggests it was an optical illusion, similar to the 2015 "Go Fast" video, but the Yemen incident data is more complete.
At the time of the incident, Yemen was a Houthi conflict zone, and the United States was protecting shipping lanes. Whether the object threatened ships and whether it was a Houthi drone remains unanswered. This video, presented by U.S. Representative Eric Burlison at a congressional hearing on September 9, 2025, is allegedly filmed by a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone near the Yemeni coast on October 30, 2024. The video shows a glowing, fast-moving white unidentified object flying in a straight line above the sea. Another U.S. drone fires an AGM-114 Hellfire missile at the object. The missile appears to hit its target, but the object is neither destroyed nor deviates from its course, continuing its flight. Representative Burlison described the object as appearing to "break apart" after being hit, but "it looks like the debris was carried away with it," and the object then continued flying. The video raises questions and warrants further analysis.
This video has naturally sparked much speculation and discussion:
Speculation on the nature of the object: What exactly is this unidentified object? There is currently no official conclusion. Representative Burrison and journalist Knapp did not speculate on its nature at the hearing, but Knapp used the term "UFO" in his comments. Considering the incident occurred in the war zone of Yemen, where the Houthi rebels frequently use drones and other equipment, some analysts believe it may be a drone used by local armed groups. They point out that the Hellfire missile is primarily used for anti-tank and ground attacks, and its fragmentation warhead may have limited effectiveness against aerial targets (especially small drones), which could be a technical reason why the missile failed to effectively destroy the target. Of course, some have also linked it to "unidentified anomalies" (UAPs). Why the missile appears to have "failed": Besides the explanation that the missile itself may not be suitable for intercepting such aerial targets, the missile in the video appears not to have exploded. Whether this is due to a failed fuse or other reasons is currently unknown.Information transparency and political maneuvering: Representative Burleigh emphasized the public's right to know this kind of information and questioned why the military did not release the video earlier.
This reflects the debate between the U.S. Congress and the Department of Defense over transparency regarding UAP-related information. The fact that the video was provided to lawmakers by an anonymous whistleblower also illustrates the informal nature of the information gathering.
Official response
The U.S. Department of Defense's response to the video and related inquiries has been extremely cautious, bordering on silence. A U.S. defense official told ABC News that "we have no information to provide regarding the authenticity of the video or the time and location it was filmed."
When asked for comment, a U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson said, "I have nothing to say."
The Office of Global Anomaly Analysis (AARO), which is responsible for investigating "unidentified anomalous phenomena" (UAPs), is reportedly still investigating UAP reports submitted by military personnel, some of which date back decades.
Although AARO has explained some of the high-profile reports, many cases remain unexplained, and no events have yet been found to be related to extraterrestrial origins.
Event Background and Connections
The complexity of the war zone in Yemen: At the time of the incident, the waters near Yemen were an active conflict zone. US warships and aircraft were in the area protecting commercial shipping lanes and defending against attacks on merchant ships by the Yemeni Houthi rebels.Houthi rebelsThe fact that the US has repeatedly claimed to have shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone has added to the complexity of the situation in the region.Similar historical examples: The video released this time is reminiscent of the infamous "Go Fast" video from 2015.
However, AARO analysts later determined that the "Go Fast" video actually captured a visual illusion caused by a weather balloon, and the perceived high-speed movement of the object was due to parallax and camera angle. AARO's explanation tends to be that some earlier UAP events could not be explained, partly because of insufficient data collected by military sensors at the time. With advancements in sensor technology, newer events can provide more data for analysis.
The incident that occurred over the coast of Yemen in October 2024, which was brought to light by the release of video footage from a U.S. Congressional hearing a year later, has once again drawn attention to unidentified flying objects, military security, and government transparency.
Currently, the most likely explanation leans towards advanced drone technology or missile interception technology, rather than supernatural phenomena. However, the silence from the U.S. Department of Defense prevents the truth from being revealed for the time being.
Such events often lack immediate, definitive answers and require more evidence and time for analysis and judgment. While remaining vigilant, it's also worthwhile to approach subsequent developments with caution.
The Yemen incident highlighted the challenges that Unmanned Ambush Protection (UAP) poses to military security, prompting Congress to push for transparency. The MQ-9's role has shifted from hunting to UAP surveillance. In the future, AI integration will enhance analytics.
