Iran has reportedly inflicted major losses on the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone fleet during the ongoing Iran war, with 45 Reapers reportedly lost so far.
According to reporting citing U.S. officials, the losses represent a significant portion of America’s pre-war Reaper inventory. The MQ-9 Reaper is a key U.S. unmanned aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and precision-strike missions.
The reported losses also raise questions about the cost of replacing the drones and the Pentagon’s ability to sustain high-intensity unmanned operations. Some Reapers were reportedly lost after communications problems, while others were destroyed in attacks.
This video examines the reported 45 MQ-9 Reaper losses, their estimated financial impact, Iran’s air-defense capabilities and the growing challenge facing the U.S. drone fleet.
Note: The $50 million figure should be understood as an approximate value associated with the reported losses/configuration, not necessarily the cost of each individual Reaper.
