File image.
The United States military has lost 11 MQ-9 Reaper combat drones since the start of the war on Iran, CBS News reported on March 9, citing American officials.
The tenth and eleventh MQ-9s were shot down earlier on the same day, according to the news network. The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, the unified military headquarters of the Islamic Republic, did release videos showing the interceptions of two such drones over the southern province of Bushehr.
MQ-9 combat drones, which cost upwards of $30 million per a unit, are primarily used to collect intelligence, but have the ability to conduct pinpoint strikes. The advanced drones can operate for more than 27 hours and reach altitudes of over 25,000 feet.
CBS News noted that these 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 480 kilometers per hour, which is slow compared to a fighter jet with a speed of about 1,900 to 3,000 kilometers per hour.
The new network estimated the cost of the downed MQ-9s at around $330 million, although the number could be much higher based on the equipment and weapons the drones were carrying when they were shot down by Iranians air defenses over the Islamic Republic.
It’s worth noting that the Iran-aligned Islamic Resistance in Iraq shot down on March 9 another MQ-9 over the province of Bara in the south of the country.
Israel lost even more drones than the U.S., with reports indicating that eight Hermes 900, three IAI Eitan, and four Heron 1 Machatz have been shot down so far.
The Hermes 900 costs as much as an MQ-9. The drone has an endurance of over 30 hours and a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet. It was designed to collect intelligence, provide communications relay, and to carry out attack missions.
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The larger Eitan, also known as the Heron TP, has endurance of over 30 hours and a service ceiling of up to 45,000 feet. Its mission profile is very much similar to that of the MQ-9 and Hermes 900, with reported attack capabilities, but it could cost as much as $45 million.
The Heron is a smaller version of the Eitan, with an endurance of 52 hours and a service ceiling of 32,000 feet. It costs around $10 million.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
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All in all, it can be estimated that Israel has so far lost around $415 millions in drone shot down by Iran, and that’s only based on the visually confirmed losses.
While the U.S. and Israel have largely succeeded in neutralizing the upper tiers of Iran’s air defense network, the Islamic Republic’s short-range air defense systems are still active. By using these systems, Iran is hindering the reconnaissance capabilities of its enemies, and increase the cost of the war.
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isis-k return stronger then isis-k would station its black gestapo-clad uyghur and uzbek guards on rue de phénicie. it would be great if isis-k took over beirut and set up its headquarters in crazy horse. then the police would catch the pedophiles tom barrack and donald trump and the courts would sentence both of them to long prison sentences. only then would the stupid arabs (especially lebanese catholics and syrian alawites) and russians realize that they were stupid for obeying criminals
more nonsensical idiocy from skankia.
yes, but compared to the destruction iran has suffered, it would take them at least 10 to 20 years to recover to their current level.
the question is: why isn’t iran sinking a us aircraft carrier? complicity or duplicity?
“why isn’t iran sinking a us aircraft carrier? complicity or duplicity?”
because iran has an entire country to save and cannot afford to play armchair general like you.
zionists are desperate to discover any of the 47 hardened missile sites knowing a “dead hand” system exists that may contain advanced kinetic missiles that will assure israel of being turned “upside down” should they not seek a peacefully ending to their murderous aggression.