US $200 Million MQ-4C Triton Drone Reportedly Goes Missing Over Strait of Hormuz
New Delhi: Indian media has claimed that a US Navy surveillance drone, MQ-4C Triton, has gone missing while flying over the Strait of Hormuz.
According to reports, the advanced drone had completed nearly three hours of surveillance over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and was returning to its base at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy when it suddenly disappeared.
Flight tracking data cited by Indian media suggests that the drone issued an emergency squawk code 7700, briefly altered its course toward Iran, and rapidly lost altitude before vanishing from radar.
It remains unclear whether the drone crashed due to a technical failure or was shot down. No official confirmation has yet been provided by US authorities.
The MQ-4C Triton is considered one of the most sophisticated and expensive unmanned aerial systems operated by the US Navy, with an estimated cost of around $200 million per unit. As of 2025, the US Navy reportedly operates around 20 such drones, with plans to acquire additional units.
The incident, if confirmed, could further escalate tensions in the already sensitive Strait of Hormuz region, a key global energy transit route.
