More than a dozen Reaper drones have been lost in Iran operations, US officials say

ABC News
March 17, 2026
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3 min read

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U.S. military lost more than a dozen advanced MQ-9 Reaper drones during operations against Iran.

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The U.S. military has lost more than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones during operations against Iran, according to two U.S. officials who confirmed the losses to ABC News. The Reaper is the military's most advanced unmanned aircraft system, capable of extended surveillance and armed strikes, making each loss a significant operational and financial setback. The scale of drone losses suggests sustained Iranian air defense capabilities or combat activity that has proven costly for U.S. operations in the region. These losses could prompt a reassessment of how the U.S. deploys unmanned aircraft in Iranian airspace and the tactics used to protect them from anti-aircraft threats.

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The scale of losses may prompt the U.S. military to reassess how it deploys unmanned aircraft in Iranian airspace and the tactics used to protect them.

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