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A Reaper prices roughly $30 million to $50 million, relying on its gear and weapons.
An MQ-9 Reaper navy drone strikes ahead on the tarmac earlier than taking off for a coaching flight. (AFP file photograph)
The US misplaced no less than 45 MQ-9 Reaper surveillance and strike drones throughout its conflict with Iran, accounting for roughly 1 / 4 of its fleet and probably costing taxpayers greater than $1.3 billion, The Washington Submit reported on Thursday, citing US officers.
Not all of the drones had been shot down. An official advised the newspaper that some crashed after dropping the communications hyperlink between the plane and its operators.
Reapers Had been Key US Surveillance Belongings
The US had about 185 Reapers when the conflict started on February 28 — 165 with the Air Power and 20 with the Marine Corps, in accordance with the report. Not one of the Marine Corps drones, which usually function within the Asia-Pacific, had been misplaced.
The MQ-9 Reaper, made by Basic Atomics, is a remotely piloted plane used for surveillance and precision strikes. The US launched the drone in 2007 and has used it extensively in counterterrorism operations and conflicts within the Center East, Afghanistan and Iraq.
A Reaper prices roughly $30 million to $50 million, relying on its gear and weapons. Export packages can value significantly extra when floor stations, satellite tv for pc hyperlinks and weapons are included.
The Submit reported that a number of Reapers had been shot down whereas working primarily over the Strait of Hormuz. US officers had been reportedly shocked by the precision of the assaults.
Losses Add To US Weapons Stockpile Stress
The drone losses come because the US faces wider strain over depleted weapons shares, with a number of US media reporting these previous week that Washington has additionally drained its stockpile of precision, surface-to-surface missiles.
Simply earlier this month, Reuters reported saying that “Nearly all” of the costly weapons, which may value greater than $1 million every, had been depleted within the practically six-month battle in Iran.
The Trump administration is looking for congressional assist for a $67 billion conflict funding package deal, with officers warning that replenishing shares of munitions, missile interceptors and drones may take years.
The Washington Submit mentioned the Pentagon declined to touch upon the reported Reaper losses.
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United States of America (USA)
August 14, 2026, 00:51 IST
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