Unknown UAV Crashes in Afghanistan, Likely MQ-9 Reaper

An unidentified strategic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has crashed in Afghanistan’s Wardak province.

According to Afghanistan International, the drone is large in size, but its exact model has not yet been identified.

The wreckage was discovered today, January 1, 2026, near Maidan Shahr, the administrative center of Wardak province.

The Turkish outlet Clash Report stated that the drone is a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, a medium-altitude, long-endurance reconnaissance and strike UAV.

A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper UAV has reportedly crashed in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/VLzIVPMo8W

— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 1, 2026

Losses of Similar Drones

Incidents involving the loss of such UAVs are usually announced publicly. However, there have so far been no reports on the official pages of U.S. military commands regarding the loss of a drone in the region.

For example, during exercises in November 2025, a drone from the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, which is permanently based on the Korean Peninsula, experienced a technical malfunction. While flying near Maldo Island, it lost communication with the ground control station.

Operators attempted to restore control, but the issue could not be resolved. To prevent the aircraft from crashing over a populated area, U.S. military personnel decided to deliberately destroy the drone over the sea. A similar incident had previously occurred in an unspecified part of Africa in 2021.

MQ-9 Reaper

The MQ-9 Reaper is a reconnaissance and strike UAV developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. It is operated by Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, India, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, the United States, France, and Japan.

Developed on the basis of the MQ-1 Predator, it made its first flight on February 2, 2001. Its service ceiling is 13,000 meters.

The maximum endurance of the MQ-9 Reaper UAV is 24 hours.

The MQ-9 Reaper has six weapon hardpoints:

• 2 internal hardpoints (each capable of carrying up to 680 kg)
• 2 mid-wing hardpoints (each capable of carrying up to 270 kg)
• 2 outer wing hardpoints, each rated for up to 90 kg

It can be armed with AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground anti-tank missiles, Mark 82 guided bombs, and other types of weaponry.