Washington: According to a newly published study by the US Congressional Research Service, at least 42 United States military aircraft, including advanced fighter jets and drones, were lost or damaged during the country’s war on Iran.
The study, published on 13 May, compiled its data from news reports alongside statements issued by the US Department of War and the American military. Authors of the report added a caveat that the figures remain subject to revision due to classification, ongoing combat activity, and attribution issues.
Among the high-profile losses detailed in the report were four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets. The military described three of these losses as "friendly fire incidents" occurring over Kuwait on 2 March. The fourth F-15E was shot down during active combat operations over Iran on 5 April, though its crew members were successfully rescued from inside Iranian territory by US forces.
The list of downed or damaged manned aircraft further includes one A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling planes, one E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, and two MC-130J Commando II special operations planes. The list also confirmed the loss of 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones, one MQ-4C Triton drone, and one HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter.
Significantly, the report notes the loss of one F-35A Lightning II, a fifth-generation stealth fighter considered among the most advanced combat aircraft in the world. While the study did not clarify whether the aircraft were shot down, targeted on the ground, or lost in accidents, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared the findings on social media, claiming that Iran's armed forces were confirmed as the first to strike down the touted F-35. Araghchi stated that the study served as an acknowledgment of billions of dollars in losses by the US Congress, warning that any return to war would feature many more surprises based on lessons learned.
Financially, the conflict has proven immensely expensive, with the US Department of War’s cost estimate for the operations rising to $29 billion. The Pentagon’s finance chief, Jules W Hurst III, told a Senate committee on 12 May that much of the financial increase stemmed from refined estimates regarding the repair or replacement costs for damaged equipment.
The Congressional Research Service operates as a public policy research arm providing legal and policy analysis to the US Congress, meaning the study does not represent the official position of the White House or the US military.
The disclosure comes while a fragile ceasefire continues to hold between the US and Iran. The conflict began on 28 February when the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran, asserting that Tehran’s actions posed an existential threat to Israel. Acting as the guarantor of Israeli security, Washington entered the fray as Iran retaliated by striking Israel, US military bases, major cities in Gulf countries, and regional shipping lanes.
During the hostilities, Tehran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz to most international commercial vessels. Because roughly 20% of the global petroleum supply passes through this narrow maritime chokepoint, the closure triggered a severe global energy crisis.
Peace talks held in Islamabad, Pakistan, collapsed on 12 April, but the ceasefire has managed to largely hold since then. The durability of the peace remains highly uncertain, however, as US President Donald Trump recently told reporters that the truce was on "massive life support". The underlying geopolitical tensions also remain unresolved, with Israel continuing to claim that Iran is on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon, while Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is strictly for civilian purposes.