US lost 81 aircraft, drones in Iran war

The United States has lost or damaged at least 81 military aircraft and drones since the war with Iran began, with the total financial cost estimated at around $3.3 billion, according to a new report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

The CRS report said the losses included several advanced US combat aircraft, including an F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter and 12 F-15E Strike Eagles.

According to the report, three F-15 fighter jets, each worth more than $30 million, were shot down over Kuwait on March 2 in a friendly-fire incident. Another F-15 was downed over Iran the following month.

Eight F-15E fighters were also lightly damaged during Iranian attacks on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on September 9 and 10. The aircraft were repaired and returned to service, the report said.

The MQ-9 Reaper drone fleet suffered the heaviest losses, with at least 45 drones destroyed. Each Reaper is estimated to cost between $30 million and $50 million, reducing the fleet to around 135 aircraft. The drones are used for surveillance and missile strikes.

The CRS analysis also included damage to an F-35A fighter in an Iranian attack on March 19. The advanced aircraft costs more than $92 million.

The report also listed the loss of an E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft worth around $270 million. The Boeing 707-based aircraft is used for airborne surveillance.