The U.S. lost about a quarter of its drones in the war with Iran
The American armed forces lost about 25% of their MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran. This was reported by The Washington Post, citing sources.
According to the publication, 45 drones were destroyed, each of which is estimated to cost approximately $50 million. Thus, the total potential expenses for American taxpayers due to the loss of these aircraft exceed $1.3 billion.
It is noted that the MQ-9 Reapers proved vulnerable to Iranian air defense systems, especially in the area of the Strait of Hormuz. These drones are used for reconnaissance and precision strikes, while they fly relatively slowly and at low altitude.
Against the backdrop of the losses incurred, the Pentagon is gradually phasing out the MQ-9 Reaper. Going forward, the American military plans to replace them with cheaper strike-reconnaissance drones capable of operating in groups and carrying out swarm strikes.
