NEW DELHI, May 21 (Agencies): The United States lost at least 42 military aircraft — including fighter jets, drones, refuelling tankers and surveillance planes — during its 39-day conflict with Iran, with some reportedly damaged beyond repair, according to a report prepared for the US Congress that highlights the scale and cost of the conflict.
The report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said the toll could still rise because of classification restrictions, ongoing combat activity and unresolved attribution of losses.
The aircraft losses reportedly include some of America’s most advanced platforms: four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, one F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter, one A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, seven KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, one E-3 Sentry AWACS surveillance aircraft, two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft, one HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and one MQ-4C Triton high-altitude surveillance drone.
The figures emerged as the Pentagon revealed that the cost of military operations against Iran under “Operation Epic Fury” had already surged to nearly $29 billion.
“A lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair or replacement costs for equipment,” Pentagon finance chief Jules Hurst III said.
US aircraft reportedly lost or damaged in Iran war
4 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets
1 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter
1 A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft
7 KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft
1 E-3 Sentry AWACS surveillance aircraft
2 MC-130J Commando II aircraft
1 HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter
24 MQ-9 Reaper drones
1 MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone