US Aircraft Losses Against Iran Exceed $3.3 Billion, Congressional Report Reveals
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a recent report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service, as cited by the New York Post, has revealed substantial losses to the American military’s air fleet in the ongoing conflict with Iran. The report details that a minimum of 81 aircraft, encompassing planes, helicopters, and drones, have either been rendered inoperable or sustained damage. These losses are estimated to amount to approximately $3.3 billion.
The extent of the damage affects some of the most sophisticated aircraft within the U.S. inventory. Among the reported losses are one F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter and twelve F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets. Specifically, three F-15E aircraft were downed by friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2nd, with another lost over Iran the following month. An additional eight F-15Es were damaged during Iranian airstrikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on September 9th and 10th; these damaged aircraft have since been returned to operational status.
The report also highlights the loss of at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, each valued between $30 million and $50 million. The attrition of these drones has reduced the U.S. Reaper fleet to 135 operational units, a figure previously acknowledged by a U.S. Air Force general before the Senate in May. The U.S. military ideally requires at least 189 operational Reaper drones.
Furthermore, a fifth-generation F-35A fighter jet, valued at over $92 million, sustained damage during an Iranian attack on March 19th. Another significant loss includes an E-3 Sentry early warning and control aircraft, valued at approximately $270 million. This aircraft, based on the Boeing 707 airliner, saw the U.S. Air Force possessing 32 units in 2015.
The U.S. also lost an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft in April, with another aircraft of the same type sustaining damage during the September attack on Jordan.
A detailed breakdown provided by the Congressional Research Service outlines the following aircraft losses and damages in the conflict with Iran:
- 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets
- 1 F-35A Lightning II fighter jet
- 2 A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft
- 7 KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft
- 1 E-3 Sentry early warning and control aircraft
- 2 MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft
- 1 HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter
- 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones
- 1 MQ-4C Triton drone
- 3 MQ-1 drones
- 1 AH-64 Apache attack helicopter
- 4 AH-6 Little Bird light attack helicopters
- 1 MH-60S Seahawk helicopter
The U.S. Congressional Research Service emphasized that the figure of 81 aircraft does not solely represent complete destruction, but rather includes both destroyed and damaged assets. Some damaged aircraft have been repaired and returned to service. The report also cautioned that the reported numbers may fluctuate due to the classified nature of some information, ongoing military operations, and the potential for future reassessment of responsibility for certain incidents.
According to estimates from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office in September 2026, the cost of replacing the lost U.S. equipment between the start of the conflict and August 1st ranged from $1.9 billion to $3.3 billion. The exact final cost is contingent upon the Department of Defense’s decisions regarding the procurement and replacement of these assets. The Congressional Research Service report compiled its findings from media reports, statements from the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Central Command, and the reports of the Department of Defense’s Inspector General.
