The US has lost nearly 20% of its MQ-9 Reaper fleet.

The scene where a US MQ-9 UAV was shot down. Photo: *THX/VNA.*

This is considered one of the biggest losses to the US's flagship drone fleet in recent years.

Bloomberg, citing informed sources, reported that the US Air Force lost at least 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones during combat operations. Including those severely damaged and subsequently decommissioned, the total loss could reach 30. This represents nearly 20% of the total number of MQ-9 Reapers the Pentagon possessed before the conflict began.

According to sources, many MQ-9 Reaper drones were shot down by Iranian forces while operating in Iranian airspace, while others were destroyed on the ground due to attacks or malfunctions during deployment. A report by the US Congressional Research Service published earlier this month also mentioned that at least 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones were lost in the operation.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a reconnaissance and attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of continuous operation for extended periods. It is equipped with advanced sensor systems, high-powered cameras, and can carry Hellfire missiles and JDAM guided bombs for precision strike missions.

According to Bloomberg, each MQ-9 Reaper costs approximately $30 million . The total damage related to this type of unmanned aerial vehicle could amount to around $1 billion . Bloomberg also notes that the MQ-9 Reaper is no longer being manufactured for the US military, making it more difficult to replace the lost units.

Defense experts argue that the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) significantly reduces risks for pilots in hazardous combat environments. However, the operating and replacement costs of these assets remain very high. Becca Wasser, head of defense at Bloomberg Economics, noted that while UAVs can be seen as a means of reducing human casualties, the MQ-9 Reaper is not a weapon that can be used as a "expendable" asset due to its high cost and limited availability.

According to the online tracking site Iran War Cost Tracker (IWCT), the total cost of the US military campaign in Iran has so far exceeded $77 billion . The first six days of the campaign alone cost approximately $11.3 billion , including the cost of maintaining forces, deploying warships, military equipment, and related logistical operations.

In addition to the MQ-9 Reaper, the US also reported losses to several other military assets during the operation, including radar equipment and several manned aircraft. According to analysts, these losses continue to significantly increase the cost of Washington's military campaign in the Middle East.