US Military Aircraft losses in Iran war reach $3.3 billion.

Congressional report details heavy damage to advanced warplanes and drones.

The United States has lost or sustained damage to at least 81 military aircraft since the start of the war in Iran earlier this year, according to a new Congressional Research Service report. The estimated losses amount to nearly $3.3 billion, marking one of the most significant setbacks for American airpower in recent conflicts.

The report, titled “US Aircraft Combat Damage in Operation Epic Fury: Considerations for Congress”, highlights the destruction of 12 F‑15E Strike Eagles, one F‑35A Lightning II stealth fighter, two A‑10 Thunderbolt II ground‑attack aircraft, and seven KC‑135 Stratotanker refuelling planes. Notably, three of the F‑15 jets were downed in friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, while another was shot down over Iran the following month. Several others sustained minor damage during Iran’s missile strikes on Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in September.

Drone losses were particularly severe, with 45 MQ‑9 Reaper drones destroyed. Each Reaper is valued between $30 million and $50 million, underscoring the conflict’s financial impact. The US also lost one MQ‑4C Triton surveillance drone, three MQ‑1 multi‑role drones, and multiple helicopters, including an AH‑64 Apache and four AH‑6 Little Birds.

The report further notes the destruction of one E‑3 Sentry airborne warning aircraft, valued at $270 million. With only a limited number of these aging but critical platforms in service, the loss represents a major blow to US surveillance capabilities.

Beyond aircraft, the cost of weapons deployed in the conflict has surged by more than $6 billion in just over a month, rising from $21.7 billion to $28.1 billion, according to US Central Command estimates.

While the White House and Pentagon have yet to comment, the report cautions that figures may change as classified information is declassified and damaged aircraft are assessed for possible repair. The findings highlight both the scale of US losses and the intensity of the ongoing war, raising questions about sustainability and long‑term strategy in the Middle East.