US Military Aircraft Losses in Iran War Total $3.3 Billion

The U.S. military has lost at least 81 aircraft, valued at up to $3.3 billion, since the commencement of the war in Iran, according to a recent Congressional Research Service report. The tally includes a range of assets, from advanced stealth fighters to essential surveillance platforms.

Among the losses are 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, with some destroyed or damaged. Three of these aircraft were lost to friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, and another was shot down over Iran in April. Additionally, eight F-15Es sustained minor damage during Iranian airstrikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on September 9 and 10; these damaged aircraft have since been returned to service.

The report also highlights the loss of at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, with each valued between $30 million and $50 million. These losses have reduced the operational fleet of the versatile surveillance and strike drones to 135, according to an Air Force general who spoke to the Senate in May. The Air Force aims to maintain at least 189 deployable Reaper drones.

Further downrange, the U.S. lost a fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter, valued at over $92 million, which came under fire on March 19. The report also notes the loss of one E-3 Sentry surveillance plane, valued at $270 million. This aircraft, based on the Boeing 707, is an aging but critical component of the U.S. Air Force's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

Other significant losses detailed in the report include:

• Two A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, one lost in April and another damaged in September.
• Seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft.
• Two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft.
• One HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue helicopter.
• One MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance drone.
• Three MQ-1 multi-role drones.
• One AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
• Four AH-6 Little Bird light attack helicopters.
• One MH-60 Sea Hawk maritime helicopter.

These figures come as U.S. Central Command estimated last month that the total cost of the war in Iran had reached $43.6 billion. Weapons costs alone saw an increase of over $6 billion in just over a month, rising from $21.7 billion to $28.1 billion.