US has lost roughly 25 percent of its Reaper drones in Iran war: Report

US has lost roughly 25 percent of its Reaper drones in Iran war: Report The US-Israeli war on Iran has depleted or destroyed more than $1.3bn worth of the US's MQ-9 Reaper drones, roughly translating to 25 percent of the country's pre-war fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles, according to a report by The Washington Post published on Friday. The report underscores how Iran's air defences have continued to be operational despite claims by President Donald Trump and his aides that they have been obliterated. The Washington Post story reveals a slightly higher number of MQ-9 Reaper drones destroyed compared to a Bloomberg report published in May, which put the figure at 20 percent of the pre-war inventory. The MQ-9 Reaper drone is valued between $30m and $50m, depending on its sensor, radar, and ordnance configuration. The unmanned aerial vehicle serves as a high-altitude platform for surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeted precision strikes, as documented by the US Air Force. Read more: US has lost roughly 25 percent of its Reaper drones in Iran war: Report A US military MQ-9 Reaper drone approaches for landing at Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on 29 December 2025 (Miguel J Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP)