Washington, Aug 13 (PTI) The US lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper surveillance and strike drones during the war with Iran, The Washington Post reported on Thursday quoting unnamed officials.\u00a0 \t According to the Post, the number of drones lost constitutes roughly 25 per cent of the US military fleet, potentially costing the taxpayer more than USD 1.3 billion.<\/p>\n
A US official, quoted by the newspaper, said that not all Reapers were shot down, some crashed due to a failure of the communication link.<\/p>\n
In 2024, India signed an agreement with the US to procure 31 MQ-9 Reaper drones for its armed forces, with deliveries expected to begin in 2029.<\/p>\n
The Reaper drones were inducted by the US in 2007 and have been a prominent asset for America\u2019s counterterrorism operations in the Middle East and other conflict zones like Afghanistan and Iraq.<\/p>\n
There were approximately 185 Reapers in the US military fleet \u2014 165 in the Air Force and 20 in the Marine Corps \u2014 before the conflict began, according to public budget data and the services.\u00a0 \tIn May, Lt Gen David Tabor, a senior Air Force officer at the Pentagon, told the Senate that the number of remaining drones had fallen to about 135.\u00a0 \tAt the time, Tabor told lawmakers he was \u201cconcerned" about the losses and that the Air Force was exploring how to quickly replenish its fleet. PTI SKU RD RD<\/p>\n
The loss of 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, representing about 25% of the US military's fleet, has raised concerns among senior Air Force officers about the ability to quickly replenish the fleet. These drones are crucial for surveillance, tracking targets, and precision strikes.<\/p>\n
India's agreement with the US to acquire 31 MQ-9 Reaper drones could be affected by the losses, as deliveries are expected to begin in 2029.<\/p>\n