"Saudi drone losses increasing over Yemen" Topic

Saudi drones losses over Yemen have increased massively in 2021 including 4 Boeing Scan Eagle's lost in August alone:

link

Lists only include losses that have been confirmed (ie photos of wreckage or shoot down footage).

Losses by year:

2015: 3
2016: 5
2017: 4
2018: 5
2019: 9
2020: 2
2021: 12

Losses by operator (country):

KSA – 23 (11 lost in 2021)
UAE – 11 (0 lost in 2021)
USA – 7 (1 lost in 2021)

Obviously Houthis are getting hold of better anti drone EW and kinetic systems (probably all provided by Iran).

And sadly the KSA forces don't show a lot of tactical expertise in many cases on the battlefield. Yes, IMO, the Houthis are getting a lot of support from Iran and Iran maybe getting tech from the PRC/CCP, etc. $ talks … I wouldn't doubt Iranian troops are using/advising/supporting, etc., the Houthis directly.

It's a bit surprising that the year over year numbers don't show a steady increase as you would expect adaptation to drone operations. 2021 kind of seems like an outlier year, so I don't know that it supports any conclusions in a vacuum. It could also be simply more drone operations, poor maintenance/training, etc.

Yes, many may not get it, yet, but the drone is and as tech progresses with continue to be a "game changer" …

poor maintenance/training, etc.

That is always the bane of many less than "1st Class", etc., forces. E.g. We saw in A'stan with all the contractors there to assist in maint., and probably training of their aircraft, crews, etc.

High tech is only good if it is properly maintained and those using it are trained to do so …