Global
A report by The Washington Post, citing American officials, revealed the US military's loss of at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during its ongoing conflict with Iran. This significant loss represents approximately a quarter of the United States' strategic fleet of this aircraft type. Prior to the outbreak of the conflict, the United States possessed around 185 Reaper drones, with 165 belonging to the Air Force and 20 to the Marine Corps. This attrition has reduced the remaining operational fleet to no more than 145 active aircraft. MQ-9 Reaper drones are utilized for vital missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strike operations. The cost of a single drone ranges between $30 and $50 million, depending on its sensor and armament configurations. The total estimated value of these losses exceeds $1.3 billion. The report clarified that the reasons for these losses were varied, with some drones being shot down, while others crashed after losing communication with their operators. This indicates that the stated figure is not exclusively limited to aircraft downed by Iran or its allied factions.
