US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the Iran war, about a quarter of its fleet
The U.S. has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones fighting Iran, roughly a quarter of the fleet, with losses concentrated over the Strait of Hormuz, per the Washington Post.
The U.S. military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran, according to three U.S. officials cited by the Washington Post. That is roughly a quarter of the entire Reaper fleet. Each drone costs between $30 million and $50 million depending on configuration, putting the total value of the losses at more than $1.3 billion. Before the war the Air Force and Marine Corps operated about 185 Reapers combined; a senior Air Force officer told the Senate in May the number had fallen to about 135. Most losses occurred over the Strait of Hormuz, where the drones fly low and slow for reconnaissance and strikes, making them easier targets. Not all were shot down; some crashed after losing their communications link. Sources: Washington Post, Al Arabiya, Mezha. Visuals and voiceover are AI-generated.