By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-10-07 19:37:07 | Updated at 2026-10-07 20:38:20
1 hour ago
Eighty-one U.S. military aircraft have been lost or damaged in the conflict with Iran since the U.S. military launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, according to a new report.
The Congressional Research Service released a report on Oct. 5 listing the U.S. military aircraft, helicopters, and drones that were either damaged or destroyed during the conflict with Iran.
The report cited the Congressional Budget Office, which estimated that equipment losses could cost the United States between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion.
“Congress may assess whether or not it has sufficient information and time to evaluate the potential effects of aircraft damage and losses in U.S. military operations and potential DOD plans or programs to acquire replacements,” the report stated.
Monday’s report comes more than seven months after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran.
Under Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military, in conjunction with regional partners, launched 38 consecutive days of strikes on Iran.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17, which outlined an end to the war, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a 60-day framework to negotiate a nuclear agreement.
However, the deal collapsed in early July after Iran attacked multiple commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering nearly two more weeks of consecutive strikes by U.S. forces.
U.S. military aircraft losses in the Iran conflict include three F-15E Strike Eagle fighters that were shot down in a friendly-fire incident over Kuwait in March.
One F-15 fighter was destroyed over Iran in April, and eight F-15 jets sustained light damage during an Iranian airstrike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in September.
Each fighter jet cost more than $30 million.
Other aircraft losses listed include a F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft that was damaged by Iranian ground fire, one A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft that crashed after being hit by enemy fire, and a second A-10 Thunderbolt II that was severely damaged by an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.
In addition, two MC-130J Command II special operations aircraft were intentionally destroyed by U.S. forces during a search and rescue operation, one E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control system aircraft was damaged at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, and 7 KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft were either damaged or destroyed in Iranian attacks or U.S. operations.
The U.S. military’s helicopter losses include one AH-64 Apache attack helicopter shot down over the Strait of Hormuz, one MH-60 Sea Hawk maritime helicopter that crashed over the Arabian Sea, one HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter that was damaged, and four AH-6 Little Bird light attack helicopters that U.S. forces destroyed during rescue operations.
Monday’s report noted that some of the damaged aircraft may have already returned to service.
In addition to the manned aircraft losses, at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones were lost in operations involving Iran, according to the report.
Three MQ-1 multi-role drones and one MQ-4C Triton high-altitude long-endurance drone were also lost.
The Congressional Research Service said Monday’s report provided multiple considerations for potential oversight, including impacts to the budget requests; the sufficiency of U.S. forces and potential “capability gaps” or other risks caused by aircraft losses; and operational risks that could signal a need to adjust tactics, procedures, equipment, and basing posture.
The agency suggested Congress could also use the report to assess whether U.S. production lines and supply chains had the capacity to replace the lost aircraft within the time frames needed by the Pentagon.
The Congressional Budget Office said last month that the conflict with Iran had cost the Department of War $38.1 billion through Aug. 1.
The agency added that the war could cost an additional $2 to $3 billion each month.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Pentagon, which referred the request to U.S. Central Command. U.S. Central Command referred to the Congressional Research Service’s report and did not give further comment.
The Epoch Times also reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response before publication time.
