WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • A congressional report identified 81 US fighters, helicopters, support aircraft, and drones lost or damaged during the Iran war.
  • The war has cost more than $33 billion, while equipment loss estimates range from $1.9 billion to $3.7 billion.
  • Losses include 12 F-15E fighters, one F-35A, seven KC-135 aircraft, an E-3 Sentry, and 49 drones.
  • Congress could fund replacements, examine supply chains, reduce foreign military sales, and reconsider US posture and tactics.

The US military has lost or sustained damage to 81 fighter jets, helicopters, and drones during the war with Iran, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service. The tally presents a stark accounting of aircraft losses across combat, accidents, and rescue operations.

The congressional office released its report Tuesday after reviewing news reports, statements from the Department of War and US Central Command, and a report from the Pentagon’s Inspector General. The Pentagon did not respond to the office’s inquiries, forcing researchers to rely on publicly available information and reporting.

The list includes 49 drones, 13 fighter aircraft, seven aerial refueling aircraft, seven helicopters, two ground attack aircraft, two special operations aircraft, and one reconnaissance aircraft. Together, those categories account for the 81 aircraft identified as lost or damaged.

According to the report, the total covers fixed wing aircraft, rotary wing aircraft, and uncrewed aircraft systems. They were lost or damaged during Iranian strikes on bases in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, flight accidents over the Middle East, or rescue missions.

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Federal assessments of American equipment losses and damage have also come from the Pentagon’s Inspector General and the Congressional Budget Office. Those reports examined different periods of US combat operations against Iran, but both addressed the growing financial cost of the conflict.

The war has totaled more than $33 billion in costs, according to the estimates cited in the congressional report. The Inspector General placed equipment losses at $3.7 billion, while the Congressional Budget Office estimated losses between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion, depending on replacements.

Some of the most significant losses involve US fighter aircraft that cost tens of millions of dollars and require years to develop. Twelve F-15E Strike Eagle fighters were destroyed in Iranian strikes on bases and friendly fire incidents.

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An F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft was also destroyed by Iranian ground forces. That brought the reported fighter aircraft total to 13, combining the dozen F-15E Strike Eagles with the single F-35A Lightning II.

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A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle receives fuel over U.S. Central Command, April 20, 2024. (U.S. Air Force)

Aircraft assigned to support missions were also caught in the destruction. An E-3 Sentry used to track missiles and other airborne threats was destroyed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

A rescue effort to recover a downed F-15E pilot from Iran also resulted in aircraft damage. The operation involved US commandos and an overnight extraction, during which an Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search and rescue helicopter was damaged.

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Seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft were destroyed at the base. Two additional KC-135 aircraft were involved in a crash in Iraq that killed six soldiers, further adding to the losses involving the refueling fleet.

Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that six damaged KC-135 Stratotankers would return to service, a detail included in the congressional report. Their expected return distinguishes those aircraft from the seven refueling aircraft listed as destroyed.

Iran has also shot down dozens of American uncrewed aircraft. The United States lost 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, three MQ-1 aircraft, and one MQ-4C Triton, bringing the total number of drones lost to 49.

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An MQ-9 Reaper flies a training mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range on July 15, 2019. (Airman 1st Class William Rio Rosado/U.S. Air Force)

The Congressional Research Service outlined several possible responses available to lawmakers. Congress could fund replacements and repairs, request supply chain assessments from aircraft contractors, or consider scaling back foreign military sales to satisfy the US military’s own requirements.

Lawmakers could also consider increasing the fleet of critical aircraft available only in limited numbers, including the E-3 Sentry. The report further raised questions about US military posture, tactics, and whether the reported losses reflect changes in the threat environment or in adversary capabilities.

The Congressional Budget Office separately found that war related operations posed significant risks to US munitions stockpiles. Its concerns focused particularly on missile interceptors and other critical assets needed to defend Taiwan during a potential war against China.