CBS: Iran Reportedly Shot Down Two U.S. MQ-1 Drones
The report, citing U.S. officials, did not identify the specific drone variants or the locations where they were brought down.
CBS News, citing U.S. officials, reported that Iran had shot down at least two U.S. MQ-1 drones in recent days. The report did not identify the variants or locations involved. The aircraft could have been Predators or Gray Eagles, which differ substantially in cost. The report also cited Congressional Budget Office figures showing losses of at least 24 MQ-9 Reapers and one MQ-4C Triton since the conflict with Iran began.
Iran has shot down at least two U.S. MQ-1 drones in recent days, CBS News reported, citing U.S. officials, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.
The CBS report did not specify which MQ-1 variants were involved or where the drones were downed. That leaves uncertainty over the aircraft’s precise capabilities and the financial cost of the reported losses.
The U.S. military has operated two principal MQ-1 variants: the Predator and the Gray Eagle. The Predator was a longstanding part of U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before the U.S. Air Force retired it in 2018. The Gray Eagle is a larger aircraft derived from the Predator and remains in service with the U.S. Army, including its special operations units.
Both aircraft were designed primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. They can also carry Hellfire missiles, allowing them to strike enemy positions.
If the two drones were Predators, their combined loss would amount to approximately $8 million, based on the estimate cited in the report. Gray Eagles are more expensive, with their price potentially reaching tens of millions of dollars depending on the model. Because the reported variants and other details have not been identified, the total value of the two aircraft cannot be determined from the available information.
The reported shoot-downs come against the backdrop of broader U.S. drone losses in the conflict with Iran. A report issued this week by the Congressional Budget Office said that at least 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones had been lost since the fighting began, representing approximately $720 million in losses. The report also said that one MQ-4C Triton had been destroyed, causing an estimated loss of about $150 million.
The available report provides no further details about how the MQ-1 drones were brought down, the circumstances of the incidents, or whether the United States has independently confirmed the losses. The claims therefore remain attributed to the CBS report and the U.S. officials cited by it.