WASHINGTON — March 9, 2026 : The United States military has lost a total of 11 MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles during the ongoing campaign against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, according to U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News. The cumulative value of the lost aircraft exceeds $330 million based on standard procurement estimates for the platform.
Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026, and involves sustained U.S. military operations targeting Iranian military infrastructure, including missile launch facilities, air defense systems, naval assets, and command centers. The campaign has included the use of multiple U.S. platforms such as stealth bombers, fighter aircraft, and unmanned aerial systems conducting reconnaissance and strike missions across the region.
Role of MQ-9 Reaper in the Campaign
The MQ-9 Reaper, produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle widely used by the U.S. military for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and precision strike operations. The platform can carry weapons including AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and precision-guided bombs while remaining airborne for extended periods.
Each MQ-9 Reaper airframe costs approximately $30 million, though the total system cost can be higher when sensors, communications equipment, and ground control stations are included. Based on these estimates, the loss of 11 aircraft represents a financial impact exceeding $330 million.
Military analysts note that the MQ-9 was originally designed primarily for operations in environments with limited or no advanced air defense networks. Its relatively slow speed and large radar signature can make it more vulnerable when operating in contested airspace where modern surface-to-air missile systems are present.
Confirmed Timeline of Drone Losses
U.S. officials have not released a full operational breakdown for every incident, but multiple confirmed engagements during early March outline several of the drone losses across Iran and neighboring areas.
On March 5, 2026, U.S. officials confirmed that three MQ-9 Reapers were lost over or near Iran. The exact circumstances for all three aircraft were not immediately disclosed. One drone crashed off the Iranian coast, while the wreckage of another was later located near Khorramabad in western Iran. Separate reports also indicated that one drone may have been mistakenly shot down by Qatari air defense forces in a possible friendly-fire incident during regional air defense operations.
On March 6, 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force shot down an MQ-9 Reaper over Isfahan, a central Iranian province that hosts multiple military and industrial facilities.
On March 7, 2026, two additional MQ-9 Reapers were downed in separate incidents. One was destroyed in Hormozgan Province in southern Iran, while another was shot down in Tangestan (Tagestan) in Bushehr Province, near Iran’s Persian Gulf coastline.
On March 9, 2026, a further drone was shot down over Basra in eastern Iraq by pro-Iranian Iraqi militia forces, expanding the geographic scope of engagements involving the U.S. unmanned aircraft.
Later the same day, U.S. officials confirmed that the total number of MQ-9 Reapers lost during the operation had reached 11, though the specific circumstances of the two most recent losses were not publicly detailed.
Operational Environment
The losses occurred as U.S. and Israeli forces continue coordinated military actions targeting Iranian defense and missile infrastructure. According to assessments released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation has involved a range of strike platforms, including B-2 stealth bombers, F-35 fighter aircraft, and unmanned systems conducting surveillance and targeting missions.
CENTCOM officials have reported progress in degrading several Iranian military capabilities during the campaign, including reductions in missile and drone launches attributed to Iranian forces in recent days.
Despite these operational developments, the downing of multiple MQ-9 Reapers highlights the risks faced by unmanned aircraft operating in regions with active air defense networks and ongoing combat operations.
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