WASHINGTON, (Economy India): The United States has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper surveillance and strike drones during its war with Iran, according to a report by The Washington Post citing US officials. The losses represent roughly 25 per cent of the US military’s Reaper fleet and could cost American taxpayers more than $1.3 billion.
The MQ-9 Reaper is one of the US military’s key unmanned aircraft, used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and precision strikes. Before the conflict, the US military had approximately 185 Reapers, including 165 operated by the Air Force and 20 by the Marine Corps.
However, not all of the 45 drones were reportedly shot down by Iranian forces. A US official told the newspaper that some Reapers crashed after losing communication links with their operators. The reported losses therefore include both combat-related and operational accidents.
The scale of the losses has raised concerns within the US military about the availability of Reaper drones and the challenge of quickly replacing them. In May, Lt Gen David Tabor told the US Senate that the number of remaining Reapers had fallen to around 135 and said he was concerned about the fleet’s depletion.
The losses could also have implications beyond the current conflict. The Reaper has been an important part of US military operations in the Middle East and other conflict zones since its introduction into service in 2007.
The development is also significant for India. In 2024, India signed an agreement with the US to acquire 31 MQ-9 Reaper drones, with deliveries expected to begin in 2029.
The reported destruction and loss of dozens of Reapers underline the growing risks faced by large unmanned aircraft in heavily contested airspace. For Washington, replacing the lost drones while maintaining operational readiness could become an important military and financial challenge as the Iran conflict continues.
(Economy India)
