At Least 81 US Military Aircraft Damaged or Lost During Iran War: CRS Report
The report provides a detailed assessment of US aviation losses during military operations against Iran, with MQ-9 Reaper drones accounting for the largest number of aircraft lost.
At least 81 US military aircraft were destroyed, lost or damaged during the war against Iran, including fighter jets, helicopters, aerial refuelling aircraft and unmanned systems, according to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report.
The report provides a detailed assessment of US aviation losses during military operations against Iran, with MQ-9 Reaper drones accounting for the largest number of aircraft lost.
According to the CRS report, at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones were lost during operations connected to the conflict, making the remotely piloted aircraft the most heavily affected US aviation platform.
The report also said three US aircraft were destroyed by friendly fire in Kuwait in March.
Another F-15E fighter jet was destroyed over Iran in April, according to the congressional report.
In September, an Iranian attack on an airbase in Jordan damaged eight US F-15 fighter jets. The aircraft were subsequently repaired and returned to service.
The report said one F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter was also damaged during the conflict.
Two A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft and seven KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers were among other US military aircraft damaged.
The figures cover fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles that were either destroyed or sustained damage during the conflict.
Background: US-Iran War
The conflict began after the United States launched military operations against Iran, triggering direct Iranian retaliation against US forces and military facilities across the region. The confrontation subsequently expanded into sustained air and missile operations, with American aircraft operating from bases across the Middle East while Iran targeted US military assets and installations in response.
The scale of aircraft losses and damage outlined by the CRS provides a broader picture of the operational cost to US air power during the conflict, particularly the heavy attrition suffered by the MQ-9 Reaper fleet.
