WASHINGTON, D.C.- The US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran, roughly 25% of its fleet.
The losses have added pressure to US military inventories as American forces use large numbers of missiles around the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route and major flash point in the conflict.
MQ-9 Reaper Losses Put Pressure on US Drone Fleet
Three US officials familiar with the matter said at least 45 Reapers have been lost. A fourth official said not all were shot down. An unspecified number crashed after operators lost communications links with the drones.
The Reaper is used for surveillance and targeted strikes and can cost $30 million to $50 million, depending on its sensors and weapons. The potential taxpayer cost of the reported losses exceeds $1.3 billion.
The drones have been heavily used around the Strait of Hormuz, where their slow speed and low-altitude operations make them relatively easy targets for Iran and its proxies in Yemen and Iraq.
Before the conflict, the US military had about 185 Reapers:
- 165 in the Air Force
- 20 in the Marine Corps
The figure excludes Reapers operated by US intelligence agencies.
None of the Marine Corps Reapers had been lost, according to Lt. Col. Joshua Benson. Those aircraft operate mainly in the Asia-Pacific.
In May, Lt. Gen. David Tabor told the Senate that the number of remaining drones had fallen to about 135. He said he was concerned about the losses and that the Air Force was exploring ways to replenish the fleet quickly.
Reaper Losses Adds Weapons Strain
The Reaper losses are part of a wider depletion of US weapons caused by the Iran war and years of American military support for Ukraine.
During the war’s first month, US forces fired more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 1,000 Patriot and THAAD missiles. The spending has reduced stocks of long-range strike weapons and high-demand air-defense systems.
The shortages have constrained US military options and forced commanders in the region to change defensive tactics and hold missiles in reserve when they determine that an incoming Iranian missile is unlikely to cause harm.
The Pentagon has consistently denied reports that its weapons stockpiles are running low. At the same time, the Trump administration has requested tens of billions of dollars from Congress to cover war costs and replenish supplies.
Trump Presses Defense Secretary Over Stockpiles
According to the Washington Post, President Donald Trump confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the state of US stockpiles on July 31 at Camp David.
The shortages have also appeared to embolden Iran, which has increased demands for control of the Strait of Hormuz and reparations for damage suffered since Trump ordered the start of hostilities on February 28.
$67 Billion Supplemental Faces Congressional Challenges
The Trump administration is seeking support for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental budget to restock the Pentagon’s arsenal.
Hegseth told the Senate in July that the conflict could cost $37.5 billion through the end of September. That figure does not include the cost of rebuilding US bases in the Middle East damaged by Iranian strikes.
He also warned that the Pentagon would have to curtail military training without a quick infusion of additional funding.
Republicans in Congress remain divided over the best strategy for securing the war-related funding and have left Washington for their August recess.
Defense Production Could Take Years to Recover
An American Enterprise Institute report found that Pentagon plans to increase production of critical munitions have “key dependencies,” including a major expansion of defense-industry factory output.
The report said replenishing THAAD interceptors could take years. The Missile Defense Agency can produce a maximum of 96 a year, while the Pentagon seeks 857 next year and almost 2,600 over 5 years.
At current production rates, AEI estimated that fulfilling that request would take approximately 27 years. AEI senior fellow Todd Harrison said a single THAAD interceptor takes almost 3 years to manufacture.
Hegseth has met with companies that produce key munitions and secured what the Pentagon calls framework agreements to increase production. However, those companies do not yet have contracts or funding to move forward.
Cheaper Reaper Replacement
The Pentagon is phasing out the General Atomics-produced Reaper and plans to replace it with less expensive armed surveillance drones that can swarm their targets.
Even if Congress approves the proposed funding, rebuilding weapons stocks depleted by the Iran war and support for Ukraine will take years.
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