Images posted on social media on 2/1 showed the wreckage of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Maidan Shahr, a city in Maidan Wardak province in central Afghanistan, approximately 40-50 km southwest of the capital, Kabul. The specific type of aircraft and its operating country were not immediately clear.

The aircraft lay scattered in pieces on a snow-covered mountainside, though some identifiable components remained visible.

Wreckage of the UAV in central Afghanistan, shown in a video released on 2/1. *Video: X/Clashreport*

Military analysis site Defence Blog, citing local sources, identified the aircraft as an American-made MQ-9 Reaper armed UAV, with an estimated value of about $30 million per unit. However, Pakistan Connect noted that the vehicle's upward-curving wingtips are characteristic of unarmed reconnaissance variants of the MQ-9 series, such as the Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian.

The cause of the crash, whether a technical malfunction or being shot down, remains unknown. No country has yet confirmed a UAV crash in Afghanistan.

Manufactured by General Atomics, the MQ-9 UAV can fly at altitudes over 15,000 m and operate continuously for 24 hours. The US Congressional Research Service reports that each MQ-9 has an ex-factory price of approximately $30 million.

The scene of the UAV crash in central Afghanistan on 1/1. *Photo: X/Clashreport*

As of 12/2024, the US military possesses approximately 230 MQ-9 units, according to a US defense official. These UAVs primarily conduct intelligence gathering missions but can also carry guided missiles for strike operations when required.

Beyond the United States, at least 10 other countries have deployed this UAV model, including Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, India, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, France, and Japan.

Thanh Danh (Based on Defence Blog, Pakistan Connect, Militarnyi)