Edition
IN
English
Weather

TOI

Trending

US 'Killer Drones' Toothless? Washington Admits Nearly 30 Reapers Shot Down By Iran

| May 22, 2026, 05:26:56 PM | TOI.in
  • Share
The U.S. military's most feared drone fleet has taken a massive hit during the war with Iran. Reports claimed Iran neutralised nearly $1 billion worth of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones since the outbreak of war, marking one of the biggest setbacks for American drone warfare in recent years. The report claimed 24 Reaper drones — and possibly as many as 30 — have been destroyed, amounting to almost 20% of the Pentagon’s pre-war inventory. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims the actual number of downed U.S. drones exceeds 100 across multiple models. The MQ-9 Reaper, built by General Atomics and valued at around $30 million each, has long been a symbol of American air dominance.

Top Viral Videos

Short Videos

Explore Every Corner
Across The Globe
Ebola travel restrictionsColorado AvalancheVijay CabinetVirat KohliTwisha SharmaJohn BoumphreyRajya Sabha PollsCristiano ronaldoMarie WilsonIPL Playoff Qualification ScenariosRicky PontingRBIEngland World Cup SquadTANCET Result 2026Cristiano RonaldoIPL Orange Cap 2026Falta ElectionTwisha Sharma BrotherRCB vs SRHIPL 2026 Playoff PredictionKerala Oath CeremonyDevdutt PadikkalNFL Trade RumorsIPL Match TodayCockroach Janata PartyLaxman SivaramakrishnanDilip vengsarkarIPL Points Table 2026MBOSE Meghalaya SSLC supplementary result 2026RCB vs SRH IPL Match
Living and Entertainment
CricbuzzLifestyleNewspaper SubscriptionFood NewsTVTimes PrimeTravel DestinationsWhats HotETimesTimes LifeTimes PetsMyLifeXP
Services
CouponDuniaTechGigTimesJobsBollywood NewsTimes MobileGadgetsTimes EventsWork with UsColombiaTOI Global
Trending Videos
What Happens After Death :Yamraj Revealed the Truth About Death to Nachiketha | Ft. Premmayi GurumaaIndian Army Issues Fake Alert Over AAP-RJD's Viral Presser, Says They Are Spreading MisinformationUS Pauses Historic $14 Billion Taiwan Arms Deal After China Backlash | WatchMuslim Clerics Across India Appeal For Restraint On Cow Sacrifice Ahead Of Eid-al-AdhaNATO's Latvia & Lithuania In Defence Mode After Putin's Stark Warning Over Ukraine's Drone WarOn The Ground Viral ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ sparks buzz in Delhi: Real shift or social media storm?Illuminati Is Secretly Controlling Society | Open Your Eyes Before It’s Late | Ft. Kuldeep SinghaniaNATO's Latvia & Lithuania In Defence Mode After Putin's Stark Warning Over Ukraine's Drone WarSarah Ferguson ‘Negotiating Pension Deal’ To Avoid Tell-All Interview, Royal Author Claims | WATCH'Chand Mera Dil' Review: A flawed but honest look at love after the honeymoon phaseRamayana’s Reported Rs 450 Crore Deal Has Bollywood Calling It A Box Office Giant Exclusive! Pat Cummins opens up on SRH, six-hitting era & Vaibhav SooryavanshiTake A 360-Degree Look At The New Honda CityNATO's Rutte Makes Big Disclosure As Trump Flips US-Europe Strategy; Relief Or Uncertainty?'​Pritam And Pedro​' Teaser: Vikrant Massey and Arshad Warsi starrer '​Pritam And Pedro​' Official TeaserSonakshi Sinha Shares Sweet Family MomentIran War Mess Triggers Political Chaos In Capitol Hill; Cancelled War Vote Exposes GOPDevotees Attend Morning Aarti at Mahakaleshwar Temple
Latest News
Hazaribag man drowns while fishing in lake"Behen Darr Gayi!": Fans relive ‘Bhagam Bhag’ era after watching Akshay Kumar's 'Bhooth Bangla' trailerMBOSE HSLC result 2026 to release tomorrow: Check details hereIran war risk: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warns of oil shocks, sticky inflation and higher interest ratesMake your clutch last longer with these easy driving tips“Three-against-one situation”: El Rubius opens up on being “targeted” in MrBeast’s viral $1M challengeBihar BTSC lab assistant notification released for 1091 posts at btsc.bihar.gov.in; apply hereIPL craze costs techie Rs 1.46 lakh in fake RCB vs CSK ticket scamRaising “robot-proof” kids: Why creativity and curiosity matter more than everInside ‘Satguru Sharan’: Exploring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Rs 100 crore Bandra homeHow selling Alaska in 1867 was a costly mistake for Russia'Hera Pheri 3 is coming': Paresh Rawal dismisses delay reports and reveals he will 'start shooting soon'US-Iran War: A daring rescue Hollywood blockbuster is on its way. Till then, pick your favourite from these 10 films on bringing someone home against all oddsKolkata team unveils fan mural at Rash Behari Avenue, celebrating city’s first loveHow US spread a lie to rescue a pilot of a jet shot down in IranNetflix unveils ‘VOID’, an AI model that can change a movie plotAI data centers are causing 'stress' not just to tech companies, but also private insurers"Trans women are.....": Clavicular’s viral moment with trans women sparks fresh conversation on internet culture
Copyright © 2026 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service