Washington Post Reveals Quarter of US "Reaper" Fleet Lost in Iran Conflict

Citing US officials, The Washington Post revealed that the American military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the conflict with Iran, representing approximately a quarter of its fleet of this type. The report indicated that the United States possessed about 185 Reaper drones before the conflict began, with 165 belonging to the Air Force and 20 to the Marine Corps. The loss of 45 aircraft has reduced the remaining total to approximately 145 drones. MQ-9 Reaper drones are utilized for reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strike missions. The cost of a single drone ranges between $30 and $50 million, depending on its sensor and armament configurations. Total losses are estimated at over $1.3 billion. The report clarified that some drones were lost due to being shot down, while others crashed after losing communication with their operators. Therefore, the total figure cannot be entirely attributed to downing operations carried out by Iran or its allies.