The United States military has lost or sustained damage to at least 81 aircraft, helicopters and drones during its ongoing conflict with Iran, according to a new report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
The October 5 report, prepared for the US Congress, documented 81 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including unmanned drones, that were reportedly destroyed or damaged in US operations against Iran since February 28, 2026.
The MQ-9 Reaper drone accounted for the largest share of the reported losses, with 45 units listed. The tally also includes 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft, an F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter and an E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft.
The report noted that the 81 aircraft were not all destroyed, as some sustained damage and were later repaired and returned to active service. For example, eight F-15Es damaged during Iranian strikes on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in September were subsequently returned to service.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that replacing or restoring the equipment lost or damaged could cost between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion, depending on decisions by the US Department of Defense on which equipment should be replaced.
Among the F-15E losses, three aircraft were reportedly shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, while another was destroyed during combat operations over Iran. The report also includes several aircraft damaged during attacks on US facilities across the region.
The aircraft losses come amid a much broader financial burden from the conflict. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the war had cost the US government about $38 billion as of August 1, with the figure expected to continue rising.
The CRS cautioned that its aircraft tally could still change because some information remains classified, military operations are continuing and the circumstances surrounding some incidents have not been fully established. The report also urged Congress to examine whether the losses could affect US military readiness and the country’s ability to replace damaged or destroyed equipment.
