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Trump Requests $67B to Restock Weapons After Drone Losses

8/14/2026

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Summary

Trump Seeks Funding

U.S. President Donald Trump seeks a $67 billion supplemental budget to restock weapons used in the Iran war and Ukraine conflict.
The Air Force says the MQ-9 Reaper fleet dropped from about 185 to roughly 135 after the Iran campaign.
AEI senior fellow Todd Harrison notes the Missile Defence Agency can produce only 96 THAAD interceptors a year, far short of the Pentagon’s request for 857 next year.

Summary

US Drone Losses

The United States has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, roughly 25 % of its fleet.
Each Reaper costs $30 million to $50 million, pushing the taxpayer burden above $1.3 billion.
Air Force inventory fell from about 165 to roughly 135 while Lt. Gen. David Tabor told the Senate in May about the sharp decline.
Officials said some drones crashed after operators lost communications, so not all losses were due to enemy fire.

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Trump Seeks Funding

U.S. President Donald Trump seeks a $67 billion supplemental budget to restock weapons used in the Iran war and Ukraine conflict.
The Air Force says the MQ-9 Reaper fleet dropped from about 185 to roughly 135 after the Iran campaign.
AEI senior fellow Todd Harrison notes the Missile Defence Agency can produce only 96 THAAD interceptors a year, far short of the Pentagon’s request for 857 next year.

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