Now Reading: US loses quarter of Reaper drone fleet in Iran war
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US loses quarter of Reaper drone fleet in Iran war
The US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran, amounting to roughly a quarter of its fleet, according to a Washington Post report. The aircraft,…
The Story in Brief
The US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran, amounting to roughly a quarter of its fleet, according to a Washington Post report. The aircraft, each costing between $30 million and $50 million, were all shot down, some after operators lost communication links. The total value of the lost drones could exceed $1.3 billion.
The Reapers have been heavily deployed around the Strait of Hormuz, but their slow speed and low-altitude operations made them vulnerable to Iran and its proxies. The losses add to pressure on US weapons stocks, already strained by the Iran conflict and support for Ukraine. The Trump administration is seeking $67 billion in supplemental funding to cover war costs and replenish supplies.
The Indian Opinion
Reports of one-fourth of the US Reaper fleet being shot down challenge the narrative of American air dominance, but the real story is vulnerability in a dense threat environment. Slow drones at low altitude over the Strait of Hormuz were sitting ducks. The Pentagon's denial of stockpile shortages will be tested against the $67 billion supplemental request. Watch whether Congress approves the full sum and how long it takes to replace a dozen-and-a-half drones.
Source: indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
