U.S. officials confirms 2 more American MQ-9 Reaper drones lost over Iran, bringing total to 16 during the war

The U.S. military has lost two more MQ-9 Reaper drones near Isfahan, in central Iran, bringing the total to 16 Reapers lost since the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. 

The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, but it can also be used to carry out precision strikes. 

MQ-9s are easier to knock out of the sky because they were designed for counterterrorism environments where there's little to no air defense, not for countries with modern missile systems.

The top speed of a Reaper is about 300 mph, which is slow compared to a fighter jet that can reach speeds of between 1,200 to 1,900 mph. Depending on the variant of Reaper drone, a single aircraft can cost upwards of $30 million. 

President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have said repeatedly that Iran's air defenses and missile launch capabilities have been virtually wiped out during a month of relentless U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Iranian state media issued a claim on Monday by the country's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to have "intercepted and destroyed" an American MQ-9 over Isfahan.