U.S. military has lost 2 more MQ-9 Reaper drones, raising total to 11

A U.S. military MQ-9 Reaper drone in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 29, 2025. | CBS

The U.S. military has lost two more MQ-9 Reaper drones during “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran, according to two U.S. officials. This brings the total to 11 drones lost so far.

MQ-9 Reaper drones are unmanned aerial vehicles used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions or to deliver precision strikes. The drones are easier to take down because they were designed for counter-terrorism environments with little air defense, not for countries with modern missile systems.

Their top speed is about 300 mph, which is slow compared to a fighter jet with a speed of about 1,200 to 1,900 mph.

The total cost for 11 Reaper drones is more than $330 million.