US Military Has Lost 25% of Its MQ-9 Reaper Drone Fleet in the Iran War
The US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, roughly a quarter of its pre-war fleet, during the 2026 campaign against Iran. The losses total more than 1.3 billion dollars. Not every aircraft was shot down: some crashed after their control link failed.
The US has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during its 2026 campaign against Iran, about a quarter of a pre-war fleet of 185 aircraft, according to US officials cited by the Washington Post. The losses top 1.3 billion dollars. Reapers have flown extensively around the Strait of Hormuz during Operation Epic Fury. Not every loss came from enemy fire: some crashed after losing their control link, while others were destroyed on the ground during Iranian strikes on US bases. The Pentagon has turned to buying remaining Reaper stock from manufacturer General Atomics to offset the losses.