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A new report by the Congressional Research Service has revealed that the United States suffered heavy damage to at least 42 aircraft during its conflict with Iran under “Operation Epic Fury”, including frontline fighter jets, surveillance platforms and armed drones.
The assessment, released on May 13, is the first official US government-backed attempt to quantify aviation losses linked to the campaign. Drawing on Pentagon data and open-source reporting, the report cautioned that the figures could still change as investigations continue.
Among the losses were F-15E Strike Eagles, F-35A stealth fighters, KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, MQ-9A Reaper drones, A-10C attack aircraft, E-3 Sentry airborne warning platforms and MC-130J special operations transports.
The heaviest losses were suffered by the MQ-9A Reaper fleet, with 24 drones reported destroyed or lost during operations. The drone, widely used for reconnaissance and precision strikes, has increasingly come under scrutiny over its survivability in heavily contested airspace.
The report also highlighted the destruction or severe damage of seven KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft. One tanker was reportedly lost in a mid-air collision over Iraq that killed six US Air Force personnel, while five others were said to have been destroyed in an Iranian ground strike. The US Department of Defence has not publicly confirmed all of the incidents listed in the report.
One of the most serious setbacks identified was the destruction of an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft in an Iranian missile strike on the ground. With only a limited number of such aircraft in service, the report described the loss as a significant operational blow.
The CRS report estimated the total financial impact of the aircraft losses, and damage could reach nearly USD 29 billion, underlining the scale of attrition faced during the campaign.
Military analysts say the findings have reignited debate in Washington over the vulnerability of high-value air assets in modern warfare, particularly against adversaries equipped with long-range missiles and advanced air defence systems.
The report noted that the final tally includes both destroyed aircraft and platforms considered too heavily damaged for operational use, adding that the numbers may still be revised as more information emerges.
Team BharatShakti
