Over 80 US Aircraft Destroyed or Damaged in Unprovoked War with Iran, according to the Congressional Research Service

A report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) has identified at least 81 American military aircraft reportedly lost or damaged during the American-led war effort against Iran since February 28. This includes 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighters, seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft and at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones. The report draws on media accounts, statements from the Department of Defense and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and findings published by the Pentagon’s Inspector General. It provides an expanded accounting of the damage sustained by American aviation during the conflict, although the CRS cautions that its figures remain subject to revision and that some damaged aircraft may already have returned to service.

The reports stressed that uncertainties surrounding classified incidents, continuing military operations and the attribution of individual losses could affect the final tally. An earlier version of the report, published in May, listed 42 aircraft, with the increase reflecting the incorporation of additional incidents and new information rather than necessarily representing losses sustained entirely since that earlier assessment. The F-15E Strike Eagle accounts for 12 aircraft in the report. Three were destroyed over Kuwait on March 2, with Iraqi militias reported to have shot it down, while U.S. reports first indicated Kuwaiti Patriot air defences, and then a Kuwaiti F-18, were responsible as part of a friendly fire incident. Another was shot down over Iran on April 5. The remaining eight sustained damage during an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on September 9–10. [MORE]