US Has Lost or Damaged 81 Aircraft Worth Up to $3.3 Billion in Iran War: Report

The United States has lost or sustained damage to at least 81 military aircraft, drones and helicopters since the start of its war with Iran, with the equipment losses estimated at up to $3.3 billion, according to a newly updated Congressional Research Service (CRS) report.

The CRS report, titled U.S. Aircraft Combat Losses in Operation Epic Fury: Considerations for Congress, lists fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft as well as unmanned aircraft systems reportedly lost or damaged in U.S. operations against Iran since February 28, 2026. The assessment is based on media reports, statements from the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Central Command, and Defense Department inspector general findings. CRS cautioned that the figure could change because some information remains classified, combat operations are continuing and some incidents remain difficult to attribute. Some damaged aircraft have also returned to service.

Among the losses are 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, one F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter, two A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft and seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft. The list also includes an E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft, two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft, an HH-60W Jolly Green II combat-rescue helicopter and several unmanned aircraft.

Three F-15Es were shot down in a friendly-fire incident over Kuwait on March 2, with each aircraft valued at more than $30 million. Another F-15E was lost over Iran the following month. At least eight additional F-15Es sustained minor damage during Iranian strikes on Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on September 9 and 10. According to the CRS assessment, those damaged aircraft have since returned to service.

The United States also lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones. Each Reaper is estimated to cost between $30 million and $50 million. In congressional testimony in May, a U.S. Air Force official said 135 MQ-9s remained in service after losses and other changes to the fleet.

An F-35A, one of the U.S. military’s most advanced fighter aircraft, was also damaged during the conflict. The list includes a $270 million E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft, as well as an A-10 Thunderbolt II lost in April and another A-10 damaged during attacks in Jordan in September.

The broader financial cost of the conflict has also risen sharply. A September Congressional Budget Office estimate put the cost of replacing lost U.S. military equipment at between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion, depending on Pentagon replacement plans. The CRS noted that this estimate covers equipment losses more broadly and is not limited solely to aircraft.

The updated CRS tally is significantly higher than an earlier assessment issued in May, which identified 42 U.S. aircraft as lost or damaged. CRS stressed that the increase does not necessarily mean all of the additional incidents occurred after the May report, as the assessment has been updated with newly available information.