00:18America just lost nearly $1 billion in some of its deadliest military drones,
00:25and Iran is claiming the kills.
00:27According to a shocking Bloomberg report, Iran has destroyed nearly $1 billion worth
00:34of USMQ-9 Reaper drones during the 2026 Iran War, dealing one of the biggest drone losses
00:42in modern American military history.
00:45More than 20 dozen Reapers, some reports say up to 30, have reportedly been wiped out since
00:52Operation Epic Fury began in late February.
00:56And these aren't cheap drones.
00:58Each MQ-9 Reaper costs roughly $30 to $32 million, making them one of the Pentagon's most valuable
01:07unmanned aircraft for surveillance, targeting, and precision strikes.
01:11But Iran found ways to bring them down.
01:14Reports say many of the drones were shot out of the sky by Iranian air defense systems using
01:21surface-to-air missiles and radar tracking networks.
01:24Others were destroyed on the ground during Iranian missile strikes targeting US and allied bases
01:31across the region.
01:32Some were also lost in crashes and operational accidents as the pace of war intensified.
01:38The result?
01:40The U.S. Air Force's MQ-9 fleet reportedly dropped from around 189 drones before the war to nearly
01:48135 remaining aircraft today.
01:52That's a massive hit to America's airborne surveillance and strike capabilities.
01:57And the losses don't stop there.
02:00A Congressional Research Service report says the United States has lost or damaged at least 42
02:07military aircraft since the war began, including F-15 fighter jets, a combat-damaged F-35,
02:15tanker aircraft, helicopters, and advanced reconnaissance planes.
02:19Estimated costs so far, roughly $2.6 billion.
02:24But the Reaper losses stand out because they expose a growing weakness in modern American
02:31warfare.
02:31The MQ-9 was designed for conflicts where the U.S. controlled the skies, places like
02:38Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
02:40But against a country with layered air defenses like Iran, the Reaper suddenly looks slow, vulnerable,
02:47and easy to track.
02:49Military analysts say the war is exposing a brutal cost imbalance.
02:54Iran can launch relatively cheap missiles and drones, while the United States loses aircraft
03:00worth tens of millions, trying to maintain dominance.
03:04And despite the losses, the Pentagon still calls the MQ-9 the most valuable player of the campaign
03:11because of its role in surveillance and targeting.
03:14Now, the U.S. military is reportedly rushing to develop cheaper, expendable drones for future
03:20wars, fearing that high-end systems like the Reaper are becoming too vulnerable in modern
03:26combat zones.
03:28Because this conflict is sending a clear message to the world, even America's most advanced drones
03:34drones are no longer untouchable.
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