ALWAGHT- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that its air defense units had brought down the 52nd MQ-9 Reaper drone operated by opposing forces since the start of the US-Israeli offensive.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said its air defense forces intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over Qeshm Island at 2:29 a.m. Wednesday. The IRGC said hundreds of hostile drones, including Lucas, Hermes, MQ-1 and MQ-9 models, have been shot down during the conflict.
The IRGC also reported the destruction of multiple US MQ-1 Predator drones over the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the reported total to three. Days earlier, it said it had destroyed a US unmanned surface vessel near the strategic waterway.
Bloomberg reported that Iran has destroyed more than two dozen US MQ-9 Reapers since the war began, representing nearly 20% of the Pentagon’s prewar inventory. The report said the US operational MQ-9 fleet has fallen to around 135 aircraft, while General Atomics has fewer than 10 new airframes available and Reaper production has ended.
