At least 81 US military aircraft have been lost or damaged during operations against Iran since late February. The figure comes from a Congressional Research Service report updated on October 5. The assessment covers fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and unmanned systems.
However, the report cautioned that the figure could change as combat operations continue. Classification issues and aircraft repairs could also affect the final tally.
Some damaged aircraft may have already returned to service, adding another layer to the reported losses.
MQ-9 Reaper Drones Account for Largest Losses
The largest number of reported losses involves MQ-9 Reaper drones.
At least 45 Reapers have reportedly been lost during operations against Iran. These unmanned aircraft account for more than half of the reported total.
The report also lists losses and damage involving several types of US military aircraft.
Among them are F-15E Strike Eagles, F-35A Lightning IIs and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.
F-15E Strike Eagles Among Reported Losses
The report lists 12 F-15E Strike Eagles among the aircraft affected during the operations.
Three were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in March. Another F-15E was destroyed over Iran in April.
In September, eight F-15s later suffered light damage during an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
Those damaged aircraft subsequently returned to service, according to the report.
Other US Aircraft Also Affected
The reported losses extend beyond fighter aircraft and drones.
The assessment includes one F-35A Lightning II and two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs. It also lists seven KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft.
An E-3 Sentry airborne warning-and-control aircraft also appears among the reported losses or damage.
In addition, the report lists two MC-130J special operations aircraft. An HH-60W combat search-and-rescue helicopter also appears in the assessment.
The list further includes an MQ-4C Triton drone and three MQ-1 unmanned aircraft.
Helicopter Losses Add to the Total
Several helicopter losses are also included in the Congressional Research Service assessment.
An AH-64 Apache was reportedly shot down over the Strait of Hormuz. Four AH-6 Little Bird helicopters were destroyed during rescue operations.
An MH-60 Sea Hawk also crashed over the Arabian Sea.
These losses contribute to the overall figure of 81 US military aircraft lost or damaged during the operations.
Report Raises Questions Over US Military Readiness
The Congressional Research Service said the reported losses could create several issues for congressional oversight.
One concern involves whether the Pentagon has enough information and funding to replace damaged aircraft.
The report also highlighted the possible impact of losing scarce and aging aircraft platforms.
For example, losses involving an E-3 Sentry could create capability gaps elsewhere if replacement proves difficult.
Therefore, the issue extends beyond the number of aircraft lost or damaged. It also involves the ability to maintain operational capabilities during continued military activity.
Defence Industry Faces Replacement Challenges
The report also pointed to potential pressure on the US defence industrial base.
Production capacity and supply chains could affect how quickly the Pentagon replaces lost aircraft.
At the same time, competing demands could make the replacement process more difficult. Foreign military sales also create additional demands on defence production capacity.
As a result, replacing the reported aircraft losses may require time and substantial resources.
Aircraft Losses Could Continue Changing
The Congressional Research Service stressed that the reported figure remains subject to change.
Ongoing combat operations could produce additional losses or damage. Meanwhile, classification issues may also affect the final count.
Some aircraft currently included in the damaged category could return to service after repairs.
Therefore, the figure of 81 should be viewed as the current reported tally rather than a final total.
The assessment nevertheless highlights the scale of aircraft losses and damage during US operations against Iran.
It also raises broader questions about replacement capacity, military readiness and the ability of the US defence industry to replenish affected aircraft.
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