The US has had at least 81 US military aircraft lost or damaged since the war in Iran began, a loss totaling as much as $3.3 billion, according to a new Congressional Research Service report.
The losses include some of America’s most advanced warplanes, including one damaged F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter and 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighters that have been destroyed or damaged.
Three of the F-15 jets, worth more than $30 million each, were shot down in friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, with another shot down over Iran the following month.
A US Air Force F-15 jet flies overhead during the “Dynamic Front 23” exercise in Grafenwoehr, near Eschenbach, southern Germany, on March 28, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
Eight other F-15Es also sustained minor damage during Iran’s airstrikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, in Jordan, on September 9 and 10.
The damaged aircraft, fortunately, have been returned to service, according to the report.
Another hefty loss came in the form of at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, which are estimated to be worth between $30 to $50 million each.
The losses led the fleet of the versatile drones — which can be used for surveillance and missile strikes — to drop to 135, an Air Force general told the Senate in May.
An MQ-9 Reaper flies a training mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range on May 13, 2013, in this handout photo provided by the US Air Force. EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The Air Force is meant to have at least 189 deployable Reaper drones at any time, according to the Air Force Times.
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The analysis also included damage sustained by a fifth-generation F-34A, one of America’s most advanced warplanes, worth more than $92 million, when it came under fire from Iran on March 19.
The Congressional Research Service also specifically pointed to the loss of one $270 million E-3 Sentry surveillance plane — an aging but essential platform that is based on the Boeing 707 airliner.
The US had 32 in operation as of 2015, according to the Air Force
An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as an A-10 Warthog, supports Operation Epic Fury in this photo shared by US Central Command on March 15, 2026. CENTCOM
The US also lost an A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft in April, with another damaged during the September attack on Jordan.
Total list of US aircraft lost or damaged in Iran war:
12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets
One F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter
Two A-10 “Warthog” attack jets
Seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft
One E-3 Sentry spy plane
A Boeing AH-64 Apache is prepared ahead of the Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on June 12, 2025. Bloomberg via Getty Images
Two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft
One HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue helicopter
One MQ-4C Triton high-altitude long-endurance drone
Three MQ-1 multi-role drone
One AH-64 Apache attack helicopter
Four AH-6 Little Bird light attack helicopters
One MH-60 Sea Hawk maritime helicopter
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Last month, US Central Command estimated that the total cost of the war in Iran grew to $43.6 billion — a $5 billion increase from August.
Weapons costs also jumped by more than $6 billion in just over a month, from $21.7 billion listed in the latest Congressional Budget Office report to $28.1 billion in US Central Command’s estimate.
The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.