Brief
US military aircraft losses in Iran war total 81, $3.3 billion, CRS says
The CRS report lists 81 planes, drones and helicopters lost or damaged, including an F‑35A and 12 F‑15Es.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Congressional Research Service says the United States has lost or damaged at least 81 aircraft since the war with Iran began, a loss valued at roughly $3.3 billion, according to a New York Post report dated Oct. 6, 2026.
What happened
The tally includes one F‑35A Lightning II stealth fighter, two A‑10 "Warthog" attack jets, seven KC‑135 Stratotanker refuelers, one E‑3 Sentry surveillance plane, a Boeing AH‑64 Apache helicopter, and 12 F‑15E Strike Eagle fighters. Three of the F‑15Es, each worth over $30 million, were downed by friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, with another shot down over Iran the following month. An additional eight F‑15Es sustained minor damage during Iran’s strikes on Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on Sept. 9‑10, but were returned to service.
What the report adds
The CRS also notes the loss of at least 45 MQ‑9 Reaper drones, each valued between $30 million and $50 million, reducing the operational fleet to 135, a number an Air Force general told the Senate in May. The Air Force aims to keep at least 189 deployable Reapers at any time, per the Air Force Times.
What was said
The New York Post article cites the CRS without direct quotations from officials, summarising the data as presented in the report.
How it came about
Felo’s earlier coverage linked the war’s financial strain to a September 15 report that the conflict has already cost $38 billion and could reach $2‑3 billion per month. The aircraft losses underscore the material cost dimension of that ongoing fiscal pressure.
Key facts
- The US has lost or damaged 81 aircraft since the Iran war began, valued at $3.3 billion. (nypost.com)
- Losses include one F‑35A, 12 F‑15E fighters, two A‑10s, seven KC‑135 tankers, one E‑3 Sentry, and a Boeing AH‑64 Apache. (nypost.com)
- At least 45 MQ‑9 Reaper drones were lost, dropping the fleet to 135 operational units. (nypost.com)
Timeline
- 2026-03-02 — Three F‑15E jets shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait.
- 2026-04-?? — An A‑10 Thunderbolt II lost in April.
- 2026-09-09 — Eight F‑15Es damaged during strikes on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan.
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “US military has lost 81 planes, drones and helicopters worth $3. 3 billion in Iran war: report”
