Iran downs US Reaper drones worth nearly $1bn: Report
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- Iran has reportedly destroyed more than two dozen US MQ-9 Reaper drones since the war began, according to Bloomberg.
- The reported losses could amount to nearly $1 billion and represent about 20 percent of the Pentagon’s prewar Reaper fleet.
Iran has destroyed more than two dozen US MQ-9 Reaper drones since the war began, inflicting losses approaching $1 billion, according to a Bloomberg report.
Bloomberg said US forces have lost at least 24 MQ-9 Reapers, with the number possibly reaching 30. The losses reportedly account for around 20 percent of the Pentagon’s prewar fleet of the drones.
Many of the aircraft were reportedly shot down by Iranian fire during operations, while others were destroyed in missile strikes on the ground or lost in accidents.
The MQ-9 Reaper, produced by General Atomics, costs roughly $30 million per unit and is no longer being manufactured for US forces.
The reported drone losses add to mounting US military setbacks during the conflict, including damage to aircraft, radar systems and advanced munitions stocks.
