Iran has destroyed at least 24 and possibly as many as 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones
operated by the U.S. since hostilities began on Feb. 28, according to a person
familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg News. The losses, valued at nearly
$1 billion, represent about 20% of the Pentagon’s prewar inventory of the
drones, which are no longer produced for U.S. forces. Some Reapers were shot
down by Iranian fire, while others were destroyed on the ground or lost in
accidents. Bloomberg Economics defense lead Becca Wasser said the drones are
“too expensive and too few with no active production line to be considered
expendable.”
