Yemen’s Houthi rebels are now assembling medium‑range ballistic missiles and drones, using Chinese dual‑use parts and Iranian training after a decade of Tehran support. The new arsenals surfaced after the group’s high‑profile strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and Saudi Aramco’s headquarters, revealing cracks in the kingdom’s air‑defence grid.
Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah operatives first taught Houthi engineers the theory behind missile guidance and drone aerodynamics. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, said the training has transitioned from basic procurement to a full‑blown indigenous production line, with former Yemeni military engineers now leading the effort.
The rebels are also importing Chinese dual‑use components to build medium‑range missiles that can travel more than 2,000 km. Conflict Armament Research reported that a shipment of such parts was seized by Yemen’s internationally recognised government, but the Houthis have already begun assembling prototypes.
In a surprising turn, the group reportedly used artificial‑intelligence software from Anthropic’s Claude platform to refine rocket guidance algorithms, according to a leaked Anthropic statement. While it is unclear how many of these advanced weapons have reached operational status, the move signals an ambition to push beyond conventional limits.
Saudi Arabia’s air‑defence network is now under pressure, with Farzan Sabet of the Geneva Graduate Institute noting that Riyadh’s interceptor stocks have been stretched thin by the U.S. and Israel’s missile‑strike campaigns. The depletion of missile‑interceptors has left Saudi airspace vulnerable to the Houthis’ newly self‑made arsenal.
In response, Riyadh has announced a new procurement program slated for early 2027, aiming to double its missile‑interceptor inventory and upgrade radar coverage. The initiative will be overseen by the Saudi Ministry of Defense and is expected to conclude its first procurement round by March 2027.