Almost 30 MQ-9s have been shot down, and the stockpile can't even assemble 10 replacements. This battle is costing quite a bit.

CryptoWorld reports that the U.S. military website “The War Zone” says the U.S. Air Force is urgently seeking to replenish its MQ-9 drone inventory. The MQ-9 model previously lost nearly 30 units in operations against Iran, and it also suffered losses in missions targeting the Houthis. Since the MQ-9A has been discontinued, the U.S. Air Force plans to purchase unused inventory aircraft from General Atomics, but the number of available units is fewer than 10. The size of the U.S. military’s MQ-9 fleet has fallen from 165 units at the start of fiscal year 2026 to about 135 units currently.