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Middle East@War #14
Hot Skies Over Yemen, Volume 2: Aerial Warfare Over Southern Arabian Peninsula, 1994-2017
Following the Civil War of 1994, Yemen experienced few years of relative peace. This was rudely interrupted in 2004, when the government opened the first of six campaigns against the movement colloquially known as 'Houthis'. The Yemeni Air Force - partially re-equipped over the previous years - saw intensive involvement in this conflict, but proved insufficient. In late 2009 and through 2010, the war spread into Saudi Arabia, which reacted with its first military intervention in the country.
A host of long-simmering internal conflicts culminated in the second Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen, launched in March 2015. Although run along widely accepted Western doctrine of aerial warfare, and highly effective, the campaign in question experienced a number of massive problems - primarily related to unexpected developments and extremely complex relations between multiple parties in Yemen.
That the air forces of the Saudi-led alliance involved in the ongoing campaign in Yemen are operating some of most modern combat aircraft and weaponry manufactured in the West is no secret. But, exactly how, why, when, and where are they deploying weapons systems in question and for what purpose remains entirely unknown in the public. Thanks to approach to first-hand sources, this volume is providing answers to precisely these questions and thus providing an exclusive insight into the conduct of operations by such modern aircraft types like F-15S, F-16E/F, EF-2000 Typhoon, and Mirage 2000.
Containing over 140 photographs, colour profiles, maps and extensive tables, Hot Skies over Yemen is a richly illustrated and unique point of reference about one segment of modern aerial warfare that remains entirely unknown until today.
A host of long-simmering internal conflicts culminated in the second Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen, launched in March 2015. Although run along widely accepted Western doctrine of aerial warfare, and highly effective, the campaign in question experienced a number of massive problems - primarily related to unexpected developments and extremely complex relations between multiple parties in Yemen.
That the air forces of the Saudi-led alliance involved in the ongoing campaign in Yemen are operating some of most modern combat aircraft and weaponry manufactured in the West is no secret. But, exactly how, why, when, and where are they deploying weapons systems in question and for what purpose remains entirely unknown in the public. Thanks to approach to first-hand sources, this volume is providing answers to precisely these questions and thus providing an exclusive insight into the conduct of operations by such modern aircraft types like F-15S, F-16E/F, EF-2000 Typhoon, and Mirage 2000.
Containing over 140 photographs, colour profiles, maps and extensive tables, Hot Skies over Yemen is a richly illustrated and unique point of reference about one segment of modern aerial warfare that remains entirely unknown until today.
- GenresMilitary FictionAviation
76 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2018
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August 5, 2019
Second volume of air-warfare over Yemen covers period up to 2017.
After end of civil war in 1994 and decade of peace rather corrupt Yemen regime caused new uprising and internal strife. Houthi's showed up on the local scene and very soon inter-tribal warfare started anew.
It did not take long before Saudi Arabia came in and just added gasoline to the conflagration by supporting the overthrown regime 9and caused creation of AQAP in the process). Soon in all medias (I have to admit Yemen shows very well that news, politics and politicians are perhaps older than the oldest profession in the world - if you catch my point) Houthi's are declared as Iran's proxies (author clearly states that this was all done to give context for the ongoing Saudi-led intervention - Houthi's did adopt tactics from other guerilla forces supported by Iran but clearly acted against the Iran's wishes especially in choosing battles to fight). Houthi's ain't saints [as a matter of fact nobody in this conflict is - everybody is acting for their reasons (I mean just look at this paradox - Saudi not-so-open-support of AQAP and UAE organizing strikes against it - and UAE is part of the Saudi alliance (??))] that is for sure but all findings so far show that while they try to get help from anyone available they do not work closely as Iran on political, military strategical or tactical plan.
Very soon Yemen became testing ground for new weapon systems (from use of ballistic missiles to combat sorties of new generation fighters like EF 2000) and battle hardening of Arab militaries - from Saudi Arabia to UAE.
Details from the air war very soon became one-sided story since Saudi led alliance remained the only air force in the region. Author explains in great details actions of each party involved - this is first time I see guerilla army with ballistic missiles in large numbers. And not in form of multiple launch rocket systems but actual ballistic missiles with single vehicle launching platform.
As in previous books photographies are great with especially detailed plane color pages in the middle.
Again very sad story about a country divided along the religious and tribal lines, ruled by warlords that are more keen to keep the state of continuous strife than establishing order and peace (but then they would not be called warlords - right?). Currently Yemen is drawn in into what looks like a never-ending war.
Recommended to all air-warfare and modern warfare historians in general.
After end of civil war in 1994 and decade of peace rather corrupt Yemen regime caused new uprising and internal strife. Houthi's showed up on the local scene and very soon inter-tribal warfare started anew.
It did not take long before Saudi Arabia came in and just added gasoline to the conflagration by supporting the overthrown regime 9and caused creation of AQAP in the process). Soon in all medias (I have to admit Yemen shows very well that news, politics and politicians are perhaps older than the oldest profession in the world - if you catch my point) Houthi's are declared as Iran's proxies (author clearly states that this was all done to give context for the ongoing Saudi-led intervention - Houthi's did adopt tactics from other guerilla forces supported by Iran but clearly acted against the Iran's wishes especially in choosing battles to fight). Houthi's ain't saints [as a matter of fact nobody in this conflict is - everybody is acting for their reasons (I mean just look at this paradox - Saudi not-so-open-support of AQAP and UAE organizing strikes against it - and UAE is part of the Saudi alliance (??))] that is for sure but all findings so far show that while they try to get help from anyone available they do not work closely as Iran on political, military strategical or tactical plan.
Very soon Yemen became testing ground for new weapon systems (from use of ballistic missiles to combat sorties of new generation fighters like EF 2000) and battle hardening of Arab militaries - from Saudi Arabia to UAE.
Details from the air war very soon became one-sided story since Saudi led alliance remained the only air force in the region. Author explains in great details actions of each party involved - this is first time I see guerilla army with ballistic missiles in large numbers. And not in form of multiple launch rocket systems but actual ballistic missiles with single vehicle launching platform.
As in previous books photographies are great with especially detailed plane color pages in the middle.
Again very sad story about a country divided along the religious and tribal lines, ruled by warlords that are more keen to keep the state of continuous strife than establishing order and peace (but then they would not be called warlords - right?). Currently Yemen is drawn in into what looks like a never-ending war.
Recommended to all air-warfare and modern warfare historians in general.
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