A new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report has detailed extensive U.S. military aircraft losses during the recent conflict with Iran, documenting 42 aircraft destroyed or significantly damaged over roughly 40 days of operations.
The assessment, prepared for lawmakers using Pentagon, U.S. Central Command and open-source data, estimates the cost of the losses at around $2.6 billion. According to the report, 39 aircraft are considered total losses, with the remainder sustaining serious damage.
The inventory spans multiple categories of fixed- and rotary-wing assets as well as unmanned systems. The report, as cited by regional media and defense outlets, lists the destruction of four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets and the damage of one F-35A Lightning II attributed to Iranian ground fire. It also notes losses among support and surveillance fleets, including KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft and at least one E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control platform.
Unmanned aircraft were hit particularly hard, with 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones reported destroyed, alongside one MQ-4C Triton. Special operations and rescue assets were also affected, including two MC-130J Commando II aircraft and one HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter reported damaged.
The CRS findings broadly align with figures referenced in recent congressional hearings, where Pentagon officials have been pressed on the operational and financial impact of the losses but have stopped short of publicly confirming each individual incident.