Iran has destroyed more than two dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones operated by US forces since the war began, a significant loss worth nearly $1 billion that represents 20% of the Pentagon’s prewar inventory for the hard-to-replace unmanned system.
Many of the strike drones were downed mid-flight by Iranian fire but some were destroyed on the ground in missile strikes, or in accidents, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
