Over a dozen US Reaper drones valued at $330 million destroyed by Iran: Report
American forces have lost more than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones in the ongoing war against the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to a report.
Citing two US officials, ABC News said the unmanned aircraft were either shot down by Iranian missiles or destroyed on the ground by incoming fire.
The Reaper serves a dual purpose in combat zones, conducting surveillance missions while also carrying Hellfire missiles capable of striking targets.
The significant number of losses highlights the extensive deployment of these critical assets in the war that has been widely criticized both in and outside the US.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the drone losses in the ongoing war, which was triggered by an unprovoked act of aggression against the Islamic Republic on February 28, resulting in the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as well as some top-ranking military commanders.
In response, Iranian armed forces immediately launched retaliatory operations targeting the Israeli military sites in the occupied territories and the US military bases in the region.
The MQ-9 Reaper has been a cornerstone of US aerial missions for years.
In 2020, the US Air Force finalized its last five-year procurement contract for the drones. Manufacturer General Atomics subsequently closed the production line last year after completing 575 units.
C. Mark Brinkley, a spokesperson for General Atomics, was quoted as saying that the final batch of four drones carried a price tag of approximately $16 million per aircraft.
According to The Wall Street Journal, each unit is valued at approximately $30–32 million, placing the total estimated loss for the Reaper fleet at over $330 million.
A senior Iranian intelligence official, speaking exclusively to a Press TV correspondent on Tuesday, revealed detailed estimates of damage inflicted on the American military in the region during the first seven days of the ongoing war.
The main finding indicated a critical depletion of air defense stockpiles for both the United States and the Israeli regime, a development described as "very serious" by the official.
The intelligence further detailed substantial casualties, reporting that at least 200 US military personnel were killed, with over 3,000 wounded in the first week itself.
The material losses outlined were equally significant.
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