U.S. Confirms Iran Shot Down Two Unmanned Aircraft in Recent Days
U.S. officials confirm Iran downed two American drones, citing losses of MQ-1 models and highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.
POLICY WIRE — City, Country — U.S. officials have confirmed that Iran shot down at least two unmanned aerial vehicles in recent days, marking a new escalation in regional tensions.
The exact location where the aircraft were brought down remains unclear, as does the specific variant of the MQ-1 used. The U.S. military has deployed two main versions of the MQ-1: the Predator, which was widely used in Iraq and Afghanistan before its retirement in 2018, and the Gray Eagle, a larger model still in service with the Army and special operations forces.
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Both the Predator and Gray Eagle are primarily used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, though they can also be equipped with Hellfire missiles for targeted strikes. In the Strait of Hormuz, these drones provide critical monitoring of Iranian military activity and ensure the safety of U.S. forces and commercial vessels.
If the downed aircraft were the older Predators, their loss would amount to approximately $8 million. Gray Eagles, depending on the model, can cost tens of millions of dollars each. Since the conflict with Iran began, at least 24 MQ-9 Reapers have been lost, totaling around $720 million, while an MQ-4C Triton was destroyed, costing about $150 million, according to a recent Congressional Budget Office report.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
