US loses 25% of MQ-9 Reaper drone fleet in Iran war — over $1.3bn gone

The US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones — roughly 25% of its total fleet — through shootdowns and crashes during the war with Iran, according to three American officials cited in media reports. Each Reaper costs up to $50 million, putting total losses at over $1.3 billion. The figures highlight a significant drain on a key US surveillance and strike asset.