The Washington Post reported that the US military lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran, a total that represents roughly one quarter of the fleet. These aircraft conducted extensive surveillance and carried out targeted strikes particularly around the Strait of Hormuz according to three US officials cited by the newspaper. Not all of the Reapers were shot down as some crashed after operators lost their communications links.
Each drone carries a unit cost between $30 million and $50 million which places the aggregate losses above $1.3 billion the Washington Post calculated. Air Force Times reporting from May 2026 showed the active MQ-9 inventory had declined to roughly 135 aircraft well short of the service’s 189-aircraft floor. Congressional hearings have since examined options for replenishing the fleet while operations continue across multiple commands.
US Central Command denied separate accounts that seven sailors died in a brawl aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln or that suicidal ideation had risen among the crew. «No service members aboard the aircraft carrier have died» CENTCOM stated while confirming that a sailor who fell overboard on August 3 was recovered quickly and safely. The command attributed the initial report to unverified claims circulating in recent days.
CENTCOM described the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group as remaining resilient and resolved after more than 260 days at sea. The group has completed 10,000 aircraft flights and expended 1.5 million pounds of ordnance during the mission that began with departure from Naval Base San Diego in November 2025 according to Navy records compiled by Military Times. Forbes reporting noted the deployment has been extended twice amid heightened tensions with Iran and limited port calls.
The extended carrier presence supports US maritime security efforts in the Middle East where Reaper drones have supplied persistent intelligence until attrition increased. Wikipedia compilations of open-source defense reports listed at least 36 MQ-9 losses by July 2026 many from Iranian air defenses or ground strikes. Defense News reported in July 2026 that Pentagon officials had begun soliciting concepts for lower-cost unmanned alternatives capable of performing similar missions.
General Atomics has delivered more than 575 MQ-9 airframes since the program’s first flight in 2001 with the US Air Force operating the majority of the fleet. The platform’s unit cost including sensors and ground stations reached approximately $56.5 million in earlier fiscal estimates according to Air Force fact sheets. Officials continue to assess how best to balance high-value assets against evolving threats in contested airspace.
Добавить комментарий