U.S. military has lost roughly 25% of its Reaper drones as Iran war depletes arsenal – WaPo
The U.S. military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran, about 25% of its fleet, the Washington Post reports, citing three U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The Reaper conducts surveillance and targeted strikes and costs $30 million to $50 million, depending on its sensors and weapons, putting the potential taxpayer cost of the losses above $1.3 billion.
The drones have been heavily used around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route and major conflict flash point that has become a key obstacle to a lasting peace deal. Because Reapers fly slowly and often at low altitudes, they are relatively easy targets for Iran and its regional proxies in Yemen and Iraq. A fourth U.S. official said some were not shot down but crashed after operators lost communications links.
The losses add to growing shortages of U.S. weapons and munitions caused by the Iran war and years of military support for Ukraine. The Pentagon has denied that stockpiles are running low, while the Trump administration has asked Congress for tens of billions of dollars to cover Iran war costs and replenish supplies. President Donald Trump also reportedly confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about stockpiles on July 31 at Camp David.
Before the war, the U.S. had about 185 Reapers, 165 in the Air Force and 20 in the Marine Corps, excluding intelligence agencies. None of the Marines’ Reapers have been lost, according to Lt. Col. Joshua Benson. They primarily operate in the Asia-Pacific. In May, Lt. Gen. David Tabor told the Senate about 135 remained and said the Air Force was seeking ways to replenish them.
The Pentagon is phasing out General Atomics’ Reaper for cheaper armed surveillance drones capable of swarming targets. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is seeking support for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental budget. Even if approved, replenishing stockpiles depleted by Iran and weapons sent to Ukraine would take years.
Hegseth told the Senate in July that without quick funding, military training would have to be curtailed. He estimated the Iran war would cost $37.5 billion through September, excluding rebuilding U.S. bases damaged by Iranian strikes. Republicans remain divided over funding and have left Washington for August recess.
An American Enterprise Institute report this week found Pentagon plans to increase critical munitions production depend heavily on expanded defense-industry factory output. THAAD interceptors could take years to replenish. The Missile Defense Agency can produce 96 annually, while the Pentagon seeks 857 next year and nearly 2,600 over five years. At current rates, AEI said fulfilling that request would take about 27 years. Each interceptor takes nearly three years to manufacture.
AEI senior fellow Todd Harrison said even orders placed now would not be delivered until after Trump leaves office. Other munitions face similar timelines. Although Hegseth has met with manufacturers and secured framework agreements to boost production, the companies do not yet have contracts or funding to proceed.
