Eighty-One US Military Aircraft Destroyed or Damaged During Conflict with Iran, Congressional Research Service Report Reveals
WASHINGTON : A new report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has shown the United States military has lost or damaged 81 aircraft in current operations and hostilities against Iran.
The official report reveals that advanced tactical fighter aircraft, a range of military helicopters and reconnaissance drones were among the destroyed or heavily damaged assets, indicating material losses were substantial in the campaign.
The Congressional Research Service Report’s key highlights were:
Aerial Losses: The report lists the massive losses as at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones that were destroyed throughout the operations against Iranian targets.
Fighter Jets and Rotary-Wing Assets: Operations against Iran also saw the loss or damage of 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter aircraft, as well as high-end models such as the F-35s, A-10s and key aerial refueling tankers. Apache attack helicopters, four AH-6 Little Bird helicopters, and a Navy Sea Hawk are among the rotary-wing casualties.
The CRS said the total air losses were not due to direct enemy action only, Friendly Fire and Operational Incidents. Three aircraft were destroyed in a domestic friendly fire or weapon discharge accident inside Kuwait in March, an F-15 fighter was lost over Iranian airspace in April and several F-15s were hit during a militant attack on a US airbase in Jordan in September.
The total magnitude of these aviation losses is a growing strain on Defense Industrial Base as well as the Pentagon’s logistical and financial resources to replace advanced tactical aircraft, analysts say.