At a Glance

• A new report by Conflict Armament Research says Yemen’s Houthi movement imported Chinese-supplied components that could be used to produce an advanced medium-range ballistic missile.
• The missile is reportedly modelled on Iran’s precision-guided Kheibar Shekan, with a projected range of about 1,900 kilometres.
• Yemeni authorities reportedly intercepted two shipments containing missile-related equipment in 2025, providing information used in the investigation.
• Analysts say the findings point to efforts by the Houthis to expand domestic weapons production and diversify supply networks, although the extent of any successful local production remains unclear.

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Yemen’s Houthi movement is seeking to produce advanced medium-range ballistic missiles using components reportedly sourced from China, according to a new report by Conflict Armament Research. The components could support a missile modelled on Iran’s Kheibar Shekan, potentially extending the Houthis’ strike capabilities across much of the region if development and production efforts succeed.

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Key Statements and Focus Areas

Chinese Components and Missile Development

Conflict Armament Research, an organisation that documents weapons and supply chains in conflict zones, identified components reportedly imported from a Chinese supplier that could be used in a Houthi missile based on Iran’s Kheibar Shekan.

The report’s findings are based in part on information provided by Yemeni authorities in July, following the interception of two shipments in 2025. The shipments reportedly contained missile-related equipment concealed among other goods.

The proposed missile is estimated to have a range of approximately 1,900 kilometres. However, the available evidence indicates an effort to produce the weapon; it does not establish that the Houthis have completed a working missile of this type.

What Investigators and Analysts Say

Fabian Hinz, a senior analyst at Conflict Armament Research, said the imports could indicate that the Houthis are already producing the missiles or attempting to do so. He also cautioned that the group’s military facilities are heavily concealed, making it difficult to assess the progress of any production programme.

Mohammed al-Basha, founder of the Washington-based risk consultancy Basha Report, said the Houthis had developed greater capacity to manufacture weapons locally after years of reliance on Iran and Hezbollah. He pointed to diversified supply chains, accumulated operational experience and connections with regional smuggling networks as factors supporting that development.

Henry Thompson, a former expert on the UN sanctions committee for Yemen, said evidence indicated that the Houthis had been importing components for solid-fuel ballistic missiles from China for at least two years.

Michael Knights, research director at Horizon Engage, argued that the presence of Chinese components raised questions about Beijing’s ability or willingness to control the end use of dual-use technologies. China has maintained that it complies with the UN arms embargo on the Houthis.

Iran’s Kheibar Shekan Missile

Iran first unveiled the Kheibar Shekan in Tehran in 2022. The mobile, precision-guided ballistic missile has been described as a relatively low-cost weapon designed to manoeuvre during the terminal phase of flight, potentially complicating interception by air-defence systems.

The report suggests the Houthis may be seeking to develop a version with a longer projected range than Iran’s original missile. That estimate remains prospective and should not be treated as a confirmed capability of an operational Houthi weapon.

Sanctions and International Supply Networks

The findings raise renewed questions about how the Houthis obtain components for advanced weapons despite international restrictions. The group is subject to a UN arms embargo, while the United States has imposed sanctions on individuals and companies accused of supporting its weapons procurement networks.

Conflict Armament Research has documented more than 800 missile and unmanned aerial vehicle components recovered in maritime seizures in the Red Sea during 2024 and 2025. Its wider investigation describes a continuing supply of Iranian-origin materiel and the importance of commercially available dual-use components in advanced Houthi weapons systems.

Yemen’s Houthi movement is attempting to expand its ballistic missile capabilities through local production using components reportedly sourced from China, according to a new investigation by Conflict Armament Research.

The report, cited by The Wall Street Journal, says the Houthis obtained components from a Chinese supplier that could be used to build a version of Iran’s Kheibar Shekan precision-guided ballistic missile. The projected range of the proposed Houthi weapon is approximately 1,900 kilometres, potentially placing targets across Saudi Arabia and Israel within reach if the missile becomes operational.

The investigation drew on information provided by Yemeni authorities in July following the interception of two shipments the previous year. The shipments reportedly contained missile-related equipment hidden among other goods, including components associated with rocket motors and missile structures.

Fabian Hinz, a senior analyst at Conflict Armament Research, said the imports could mean the Houthis are already manufacturing the missiles or are attempting to do so. He noted that the group’s concealed military facilities make it difficult for investigators to determine how far any production effort has progressed.

Other analysts say the findings reflect a broader evolution in Houthi weapons procurement. Mohammed al-Basha argued that the movement has become more capable of producing weapons locally and has diversified its supply networks after years of relying heavily on Iranian support and assistance from Hezbollah.

The report also points to concerns over the transfer of dual-use technology, which can serve civilian and military purposes. Henry Thompson, a former UN sanctions expert on Yemen, said evidence of imports for solid-fuel ballistic missiles stretches back at least two years. Michael Knights of Horizon Engage said the presence of Chinese-sourced components raises questions about the control of technologies that can be repurposed for military use.

Iran’s Kheibar Shekan, first unveiled in 2022, is a mobile, precision-guided ballistic missile designed to manoeuvre during the final phase of flight. Analysts say such characteristics can make interception more difficult, although the capabilities of a potential Houthi version remain unconfirmed.

The findings come despite international restrictions on weapons transfers to the Houthis and US sanctions targeting parts of the group’s procurement networks. China has said it complies with the UN arms embargo. The report does not establish that the Chinese supplier knowingly supported a Houthi weapons programme or that the movement has successfully produced a complete missile based on the Iranian design.

FYI

The report highlights a potential shift in the Houthis’ weapons capabilities: from relying primarily on externally supplied systems toward attempting to manufacture more advanced weapons using imported components. If successful, such efforts could give the movement greater flexibility in maintaining and adapting its arsenal, while making procurement networks more difficult to disrupt.

The findings also underscore the challenge of enforcing arms restrictions when military systems depend on components that may have legitimate commercial applications. Identifying the origin of a part does not, by itself, establish that a supplier or government knowingly intended it for military use. Determining responsibility requires evidence about the supplier, transaction, end user and relevant export controls.

The regional implications depend on whether the Houthis can turn the reported components into a reliable, operational missile. A projected range of approximately 1,900 kilometres would represent a significant potential threat, but it should not be confused with a verified deployed capability. Independent evidence of a completed missile, successful testing or operational deployment would be needed to establish the programme’s actual progress.

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