Iran destroyed about 30 US MQ-9 reaper drones worth nearly $1 billion

Iran has reportedly destroyed or severely damaged about 30 United States MQ-9 Reaper drones since the escalation of military confrontations between both countries, according to a Bloomberg report cited by RT.

The report stated that the destroyed drones account for nearly one-fifth of the US military’s operational MQ-9 Reaper fleet, with estimated losses approaching $1 billion.

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Most of the drones were reportedly brought down by Iranian air defence systems during military operations, while others were said to have been destroyed in missile strikes or lost during operational incidents linked to the ongoing conflict.

The MQ-9 Reaper is regarded as one of the United States’ most advanced unmanned aerial combat systems, widely used for surveillance, intelligence gathering and precision strike missions. Each aircraft is estimated to cost more than $30 million.

According to the report, the losses have significantly reduced the operational strength of the US drone fleet, reportedly bringing the number of active MQ-9 Reapers down to around 135 aircraft, below the minimum level traditionally maintained by the US Air Force.

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The development comes amid escalating military tensions involving drone warfare, missile attacks and air defence operations across the Middle East.

US defence authorities have yet to publicly release a detailed breakdown of the reported drone losses, although Pentagon officials recently acknowledged increasing operational and replacement costs associated with ongoing military engagements in the region.

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