$200 million US drone goes missing over Strait of Hormuz

A sophisticated US surveillance drone has gone missing while flying over the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in the Middle East. The incident has raised new security concerns.

According to reports, the MQ-4C Triton drone suddenly sent an emergency signal on its way back from a surveillance mission. The drone was returning to a naval base in Sicily, Italy.

During the flight, the drone suddenly turned slightly towards Iran and sent the ‘7700’ code—which is usually a distress signal. It then began to lose altitude rapidly and disappeared from radar shortly after.

There is no confirmation yet whether the drone crashed or was shot down.

The incident occurred at a time when the United States and Iran recently agreed to a ceasefire and Iran announced the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

One of the most expensive drones in the world
The MQ-4C Triton drone is one of the most expensive military drones in the United States, costing more than $200 million.

Compared to conventional aircraft, it is capable of staying in the air for a long time and conducting strategic surveillance. It is especially used for continuous surveillance in important narrow areas or 'chokepoints' of the sea route.

Such drones usually work in support of patrol aircraft by collecting information from high in the sky and play an important role in security monitoring in the Gulf region.

Analysts believe that the disappearance of the drone has made the recent situation in the Middle East more sensitive.