Iran Conflict: US Military Loses Or Damages 81 Aircraft Worth Up To $3.3bn

The United States military has reportedly lost or sustained damage to 81 aircraft during its conflict with Iran, according to a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the losses involve a combination of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, with the MQ-9 Reaper drone accounting for more than half of the platforms affected.

The MQ-9 Reaper has been extensively used by the US military for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, as well as close air support and combat search-and-rescue missions.

The reported losses also include some of the Pentagon’s high-value and specialised aircraft, including an F-35A stealth fighter and an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. The E-3 Sentry is equipped with a large radar system used for monitoring airspace and tracking targets.

The CRS report, citing Congressional Budget Office assessments, estimated that replacing or repairing the affected aircraft could cost between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion, depending on the approach adopted by the US Department of Defense.

However, the broader financial burden of the conflict is significantly higher. Operational expenses related to the conflict have reportedly reached about $45 billion, excluding damage sustained by US military facilities across the region.

The report noted that not all of the aircraft counted as damaged remain out of service. Some have reportedly returned to operations after undergoing repairs.

Among them are eight F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets that sustained relatively light damage during an Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in September.

The CRS compiled its assessment using information from the US Department of Defense, the Office of Inspector General and US Central Command, alongside other verified reporting.

The findings could raise questions for lawmakers over the extent to which the Pentagon has provided detailed information about military equipment losses and whether the available data is sufficient to assess the operational impact of the conflict.

The report also highlights potential pressure on Congress to approve additional funding for repairs and replacement aircraft, while lawmakers may have to consider whether the US defence industrial base has sufficient capacity to replace equipment lost during the conflict.

Another concern is the possible impact of the losses on US military operations beyond the Middle East. The report warned that attrition involving ageing and relatively scarce aircraft such as the E-3 Sentry could create surveillance and air-operations gaps in other regions.

The MQ-9 Reaper fleet has reportedly suffered particularly heavy losses during US operations in the Middle East, including the conflict with Iran and earlier military confrontations involving Houthi forces in Yemen.

According to the assessment, 45 MQ-9 Reaper units have been lost in the Middle East this year alone, contributing to the loss of roughly 35 per cent of the US Air Force’s total Reaper inventory since the platform entered service in 2004.