IRGC Successfully Intercepts US MQ-9 Drone Over Strait of Hormuz
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that its air defense units successfully intercepted and downed a US MQ-9 long-range unmanned aerial vehicle above the Strait of Hormuz.
According to an official statement from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), air defense units have successfully intercepted and downed a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement released on Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that a drone was downed by missile fire from their advanced air defense systems, subsequently crashing into the Persian Gulf.
An American MQ-9 long-range unmanned aerial vehicle was reportedly hit by missile fire from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ advanced air defense systems, leading to its crash into the Persian Gulf’s waters over the Strait of Hormuz, according to recent statements.
Reports state that the presence of the Iranian populace continues to bolster the Republic’s fighters significantly. In a notable development, Iranian forces have turned the skies into a perilous zone for the renowned American MQ-9 Reaper drones. Since the onset of the Ramadan War, over 40 of these drones have been downed by Iran and its regional allies, with more than 90 eliminated across various conflict zones, substantially diminishing the Pentagon’s fleet by 35-50 percent.
The MQ-9 Reaper, deemed the “most valuable player” by the US Air Force in its operations against Iran, has faced significant losses since the onset of US-Israeli military actions in late February.
Bloomberg reports that Iran has dismantled more than two dozen MQ-9 drones since the inception of the US-Israeli conflict, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the Pentagon’s pre-conflict inventory. With each airframe valued at $30 million, the aggregate damage is estimated to approach $1 billion.
According to congressional testimony referenced by Bloomberg and The War Zone, the operational strength of the Air Force’s Reaper drone fleet has dwindled to approximately 135 units, significantly lower than the established minimum requirement of 189 aircraft.
General Atomics has announced that less than ten new airframes are still up for acquisition, signaling the closure of the production line for the MQ-9A.
