US Military Aircraft Losses in Iran Campaign Reach $3.3 Billion

The report, titled "US Aircraft Combat Damage in Operation Epic Fury," details a significant erosion of air power. Among the most expensive losses are 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, valued between $30 and $50 million each, and an E-3 Sentry surveillance plane, an asset with a $270 million price tag. Other notable losses include 12 F-15E Strike Eagles, one F-35A Lightning II, and seven KC-135 Stratotankers.

Operational failures and direct combat have both contributed to the attrition. Three F-15 jets were lost to friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, while others sustained damage during an Iranian airstrike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The report notes that the total number of disabled craft may fluctuate as classified data is reviewed and some damaged units are earmarked for repair. Beyond physical assets, the financial burden is mounting, with the cost of munitions used in the theater climbing by $6 billion in a single month to reach $28.1 billion.