IRGC Claims It Shot Down US MQ-9 Reaper Drone Over Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has said that its aerospace force shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz using a “modern and advanced” air defence system.

The IRGC made the announcement on Monday through its official Sepah News outlet and said more details would be shared later.

The reported incident is the latest in a series of losses suffered by the US military’s MQ-9 Reaper drones. The US Air Force has described the MQ-9 Reaper as the “most valuable player” in its campaign against Iran.

According to Bloomberg, Iran has destroyed more than two dozen MQ-9 drones since the start of the war in late February. The report said this represents nearly 20% of the Pentagon’s pre-war MQ-9 inventory. With each aircraft costing around $30 million, the total losses are estimated at about $1 billion.

The US Air Force’s operational Reaper fleet has reportedly fallen to around 135 aircraft, below its minimum target of 189, according to congressional testimony cited by Bloomberg and The War Zone.

General Atomics, the manufacturer of the drone, has reportedly confirmed that fewer than 10 new airframes are currently available for purchase, while production of the MQ-9A has been shut down.

The IRGC has claimed that at least 41 to 42 Reapers have been destroyed during flights over Iranian territory and the Persian Gulf, as well as on the ground at US bases in Kuwait and Jordan.

During its latest retaliatory Operation Nasr-2, the IRGC also claimed that eight MQ-9 drones stored at Jordan’s King Faisal Air Base were destroyed, along with other aircraft on runways.

“We are exploring options to acquire as many MQ-9A aircraft as possible right now,” Air Force Lieutenant General David Tabor told Congress, highlighting the need to replace the drones lost in recent operations.

The MQ-9 Reaper was designed mainly for low-threat environments. However, it has reportedly faced challenges against Iran’s layered, domestically produced air defence systems. The 358 loitering interceptor has also reportedly been used by Yemen’s Ansarullah forces to bring down nearly 30 Reapers since 2023.

US officials have acknowledged concerns about the drone’s ability to operate in high-threat areas, although the MQ-9 remains an important part of US intelligence, surveillance and strike operations in the region.