US Losing Drones — Iran Deals New Serious Blow

The US has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the start of the conflict with Iran, about a quarter of its fleet, with damage exceeding $1.3 billion. Missile stockpiles are dwindling; the Pentagon requests $67 billion, but THAAD production is limited to 96 missiles per year, and replenishment could take decades.

The US has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the start of the direct conflict with Iran, about a quarter of the entire fleet available to the Pentagon before hostilities began. This is reported by Maariv, citing a report from The Washington Post. Each Reaper costs between $30 and $50 million, so the total damage to the US budget exceeds $1.3 billion. The drones were actively used in the Strait of Hormuz area, where they became easy targets for Iranian military and Iran-linked forces in Yemen and Iraq. An American source noted that not all drones were shot down by the enemy: some crashed due to communication problems. The losses occur against the backdrop of a serious reduction in weapons stockpiles: in just the first month of the campaign, the US launched over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles and over 1,000 Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles. The ammunition shortage limits President Trump's military options, and the tense situation in July led to a clash between Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Camp David. The administration is requesting an emergency budget of $67 billion, but a report from the American Enterprise Institute shows that production capacity is limited: THAAD is produced at only 96 missiles per year, and it will take at least 27 years to replenish needs. Report author Todd Harrison concluded that even if ordered today, missiles would not be delivered before the end of Trump's presidential term.