A new report by the US Congressional Research Service has revealed that at least 81 US aircraft have been lost or damaged since fighting began in late February, including some of the most expensive and advanced aircraft in the world.
According to figures published by the New York Post on Wednesday, the direct cost of the losses and damage is estimated at approximately $3.3 billion.
Among the aircraft damaged or lost were 12 F-15E Strike Eagles. Three of them, each valued at more than $30 million, were mistakenly shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, while another F-15E was shot down over Iran the following month.
In addition, eight F-15Es sustained minor damage in Iranian attacks on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in early September. According to the report, however, all eight were repaired and returned to operational service.
#Update An updated Congressional Research Service report lists 81 US military aircraft as lost or damaged during operations against Iran, including 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones.
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The US drone fleet, led by the MQ-9 Reaper, also suffered significant losses. The report states that the United States has lost at least 45 Reapers, each estimated to cost between $30 million and $50 million.
The losses have reduced the remaining Reaper fleet to just 135 aircraft, leaving the US Air Force below its minimum target of 189 drones required for sustained operational deployments, according to testimony by a US general before the Senate in May.
The campaign also inflicted significant damage on high-value assets. An F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter, costing more than $92 million per aircraft, was hit by Iranian fire on March 19.
An E-3 Sentry airborne early-warning and control aircraft was also lost, while KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft, MC-130J special operations aircraft, a combat rescue helicopter, unmanned maritime patrol aircraft, and various attack helicopters, including Apaches and Pave Hawks, sustained damage.
The report’s authors stressed that the figure of 81 aircraft includes both those destroyed outright and those that sustained minor damage, with some subsequently returned to service following repairs.
While the $3.3 billion estimate focuses on the direct value of the equipment, it does not provide a detailed accounting of costs associated with flight hours, munitions, maintenance, and the defense of military bases. Taken together, the figures provide a broader picture of the continuing losses sustained by the US Air Force—not only from direct combat and friendly fire, but also from direct attacks on bases across the region.
Source: Al-Manar Website