US seeks cheaper hunter-killer drones after Iran destroys $1B worth of Reapers
Summary
The US military has lost about 30 expensive MQ-9A Reaper drones worth over $1 billion in missions over Iran. To reduce losses, the Pentagon is now looking for cheaper drones that can carry out similar missions, even if many are lost in combat.Key Facts
- The US military has lost dozens of Reaper drones in combat over Iran, costing over $1 billion.
- Each Reaper drone costs between $30 million and $50 million depending on equipment.
- Reapers are used for surveillance and strikes deep inside Iranian airspace to avoid risking pilots.
- Iran’s air defenses have shot down many Reapers, reducing the US fleet to about 135 drones.
- The US wants to buy cheaper drones that can carry weapons and sensors and have a range similar to Reapers.
- The Pentagon aims to deploy many inexpensive drones to overwhelm enemy defenses, accepting losses.
- General Atomics, the company that made Reapers, stopped production in 2025 but may build cheaper replacements.
- The approach is inspired by Ukraine’s use of large numbers of low-cost drones to overcome Russian defenses.
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