# Iran exposes low efficiency of costly UAVs by downing 45 MQ-9 Reapers, expert says

https://mins.news/en/item/24979

- TASS, 2026-08-18 10:06 UTC
- World
- Original: https://tass.com/politics/2174547

> Military expert Alexander Stepanov said Iran has destroyed 45 of the 338 US-made MQ-9 Reaper drones produced since 2007. He argued that the costly strike and reconnaissance UAVs are vulnerable in combat, including to Iran’s air defenses, and may be ineffective against a better-equipped adversary, raising doubts about the practicality of producing them.

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