At least 81 US military aircraft have been lost or damaged during operations against Iran since late February. According to a new Congressional Research Service report, updated October 5, the tally includes fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and unmanned systems, or drones. It cautioned that the number could change because of classification, continuing combat operations and attrition, while some damaged aircraft may have since returned to service. The largest losses involve MQ-9 Reaper drones, with at least 45 reported lost during operations against Iran.

The report also lists 12 F-15E Strike Eagles, including three destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in March and another destroyed over Iran in April. Eight F-15s later sustained light damage during an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in September and returned to service, according to reports cited by CRS. Other losses or damage include an F-35A Lightning II, two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, seven KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and an E-3 Sentry airborne warning-and-control aircraft.

The report also lists two MC-130J special operations aircraft, an HH-60W combat search-and-rescue helicopter, an MQ-4C Triton drone, and three MQ-1 unmanned aircraft. Helicopter losses included an AH-64 Apache reportedly shot down over the Strait of Hormuz, four AH-6 Little Birds destroyed during rescue operations, and an MH-60 Sea Hawk that crashed over the Arabian Sea.

CRS said the losses could present several issues for congressional oversight, including whether the Pentagon has enough information and funding to replace damaged aircraft and whether losses of scarce, aging platforms such as the E-3 could create capability gaps elsewhere. The report also highlighted potential strains on the US defense industrial base, warning that production capacity, supply chains, and competing demands, including foreign military sales, could affect how quickly the Pentagon can replenish lost aircraft.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)