Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims it shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone near the Strait of Hormuz using a domestically built air defense system called Arash-e Kamangir. The MQ-9 Reaper, a surveillance and strike drone, costs approximately $30 million per unit. The IRGC also claimed additional Reaper kills between July and August 2026 in Bushehr and Ahvaz provinces. US officials acknowledged the loss of roughly 30 MQ-9 Reapers since operations began in 2026, representing approximately $900 million in hardware. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes, remains a major strategic flashpoint.
Source: Read the original article
