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On 16 September 2026 Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its Aerospace Force air defences brought down a US MQ-9 Reaper over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC called it the 52nd US MQ-9 it has destroyed in the ongoing conflict but gave no independent evidence; the US did not immediately comment.
The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, an upgrade of the MQ-1 Predator.
India is buying 31 of the newer MQ-9B variant under a roughly $4 billion deal signed in October 2024.
| Feature | MQ-9A Reaper | MQ-9B (India's order) |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance | 27+ hours | Up to about 40 hours |
| Main user | US Air Force | Indian Navy, Army and Air Force |
| Variants | Reaper | SeaGuardian (maritime), SkyGuardian (land) |
| India's split | — | 15 SeaGuardian to Navy; 8 SkyGuardian each to Army and IAF |
MQ-9 Reaper first deployed, in Afghanistan
India signs government-to-government deal for 31 MQ-9B drones (about $4 billion / ₹34,500 crore)
US and Israel launch large-scale strikes on Iran
IRGC claims MQ-9 downed over Qeshm Island — its 52nd claimed
Scheduled delivery window for India's MQ-9Bs
Qeshm is the largest island in the Persian Gulf, lying in the Strait of Hormuz off Iran's Hormozgan province — the chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Iran's ideological armed force, separate from the regular army; its Aerospace Force runs missile and air-defence units
US maker of the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-9B
GS Paper 3 > Security; Defence technology. GS Paper 1 > Map (Strait of Hormuz)
Defence GK > Military aircraft and UAVs
Medium-altitude, long-endurance drone — flies for a day or more at medium altitude; the MQ-9 class.
High-altitude, long-endurance drone; the MQ-9B is often described in this class in India's deal.
US air-to-ground missile carried by the MQ-9.