Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its Aerospace Force intercepted and destroyed the 52nd US MQ-9 drone since the start of the war, bringing down the aircraft over Qeshm Island early Wednesday.
“At 02:29 this morning, the 52nd MQ-9 drone belonging to the terrorist US Army was intercepted and destroyed” by the IRGC Aerospace Force’s advanced air defense system, the force said in a statement.
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The 52nd U.S. Army MQ-9 drone downed by Iranian air defenses was intercepted and destroyed at 2:29 AM today over Qeshm Island.
The IRGC said the drone was destroyed over the skies of Qeshm Island at 2:29 a.m. local time.
Last month, The Washington Post reported that the US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran, or roughly 25 percent of its fleet. It cited three US officials familiar with the matter.
The Reaper is used to conduct surveillance and targeted strikes, and it can cost between $30 million and $50 million depending on the type of sensors and weapons it carries, according to the Air Force. The potential taxpayer cost of recent losses is over $1.3 billion for that weapon system alone.
Source: Al-Manar English Website