- Bloomberg reports Iran has destroyed or damaged around 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones
- Losses are estimated to be worth nearly $1 billion
- Reaper fleet reportedly reduced to about 135 aircraft
- Drones were lost through air defense operations, missile strikes and accidents
- Pentagon says operation costs have risen to $29 billion
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2026 (Agencies) – Iran has reportedly destroyed or severely damaged around 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones operated by the United States since the outbreak of hostilities in late February, representing nearly one-fifth of Washington’s pre-war fleet, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Citing an unnamed source, Bloomberg said more than two dozen MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) had been lost during the conflict. The reported losses are estimated to be worth close to $1 billion, given that each MQ-9 Reaper is valued at more than $30 million.
The MQ-9 Reaper is one of the US military’s most versatile unmanned aircraft, capable of carrying out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions as well as precision strikes. Although manufacturer General Atomics halted production of the model last year, variants continue to be produced for international customers.
According to the report, many of the drones were shot down by Iranian air defense systems, while others were destroyed on the ground during missile attacks or lost in operational accidents.
The losses have reportedly reduced the US Reaper fleet to approximately 135 aircraft, well below the long-established minimum operational requirement of 189 aircraft cited by David Tabor, the Pentagon’s deputy chief of staff for plans and programs.
The reported figures are broadly consistent with a recent assessment by the Congressional Research Service, the nonpartisan research arm of the Library of Congress. In a report titled “U.S. Aircraft Combat Losses in Operation Epic Fury,” the agency estimated that the US military had lost 24 MQ-9 Reapers and one MQ-4C drone during the conflict.
The report also listed a total of 42 US aircraft losses, including four F-15E fighter jets, one F-35A fighter aircraft, an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, seven KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft and a helicopter.
Meanwhile, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst told a congressional hearing that the overall cost of military operations against Iran had increased from an initial estimate of $25 billion to $29 billion. He attributed the rise in part to updated repair and replacement costs for damaged or destroyed military equipment.
Neither the US Department of Defense nor Iranian authorities have publicly released comprehensive official figures regarding aircraft and drone losses. However, the reported attrition highlights the growing challenges faced by advanced military systems operating in increasingly contested air defense environments.
If confirmed, the scale of the reported losses would represent one of the most significant setbacks for the MQ-9 Reaper fleet since the drone entered service and underscore the intensity of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.