US Has Lost 25% of Reaper Drone Fleet in Iran War: Report

The US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper tactical unmanned aerial systems during its 2026 campaign against Iran, representing roughly 25 percent of its pre-war fleet.

The losses amount to more than $1.3 billion in aircraft costs, with individual Reapers valued between $30 million and $50 million depending on their sensor and weapons payload, US officials familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

Throughout the so-called “Operation Epic Fury,” US forces have deployed the remotely piloted aircraft extensively around the Strait of Hormuz for scouting and precision strikes.

Read the full story on our new publication, The Drone Front: US Has Lost 25% of Reaper Drone Fleet in Iran War: Report