A Congressional report has revealed that 42 US military aircraft have been lost or damaged since the start of the war with Iran, during Operation Epic Fury. The operation, which began with US strikes on 28 February, has cost an estimated $29 billion so far, with the Pentagon revising its repair and replacement estimates upward from $25 billion.
The losses include 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 aircraft, one HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones, and one MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone. Notably, three of the four F-15s were shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait on 2 March, while a fourth was downed during combat operations in Iran on 5 April.
The cost of replacing the aircraft is estimated at around $7 billion, though valuations vary widely for some out-of-production models. The F-35A alone is worth approximately $110 million, while each F-15E is valued at between $65 million and $70 million when adjusted for inflation. The seven KC-135 losses could cost around $1.8 billion to replace based on US Air Force budget estimates.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mocked the US over the report, stating: 'Months after initiation of war on Iran, U.S. Congress acknowledges loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions. Our powerful Armed Forces are confirmed as first to strike down a touted F-35.' The Congressional report, dated 13 May, advises that the losses may provide insights into aircraft survivability in contested environments and could generate unplanned costs for replacement, repair, or sustainment.
Earlier this year, a CNN investigation revealed that a majority of US military sites in the Middle East had been damaged by Iran. US intelligence reports also suggest that Iran is rebuilding its military industrial base faster than expected, having restarted drone production and begun replacing missile sites and launchers.
