New Delhi: The United States reportedly lost or saw damage to 42 military aircraft during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, according to a Congressional Research Service report. The list includes fighter jets, refuelling aircraft, a surveillance plane, special operations aircraft, a rescue helicopter and drones, so this was not only a fighter jet loss figure.
The operation began on February 28, 2026, in coordination with Israel, and involved air, maritime and missile combat across the Middle East. The CRS report said the number may still change due to “classification, ongoing combat activity, and attribution.”
US aircraft losses in Iran war: What CRS report says
The CRS report said the Department of Defense has not released a full public assessment of combat losses in Operation Epic Fury. During a May 12, 2026 hearing, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W. Hurst III said the cost estimate for US military operations in Iran had increased to $29 billion.
“A lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair or replacement costs for equipment,” Hurst said, according to the CRS report.
The larger story is here that Aircraft losses are not just battlefield statistics; they hit budgets, readiness and future military planning.
Full list of US fighter jets reportedly lost or damaged
According to the CRS list, the reported aircraft losses and damage include:
| Aircraft type | Number | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| F-15E Strike Eagle | 4 | Three destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait, one shot down over Iran |
| F-35A Lightning II | 1 | Reportedly damaged by Iranian ground fire |
| A-10 Thunderbolt II | 1 | Hit by enemy fire and later crashed |
| KC-135 Stratotanker | 7 | One crashed, one emergency landing, five damaged on ground |
| E-3 Sentry AWACS | 1 | Damaged on ground in Saudi Arabia |
| MC-130J Commando II | 2 | Destroyed on ground in Iran after they could not depart |
| HH-60W Jolly Green II | 1 | Damaged by small-arms fire |
| MQ-9 Reaper drones | 24 | Reportedly lost since operations began |
| MQ-4C Triton | 1 | Crashed in a mishap |
Why these losses matter
The MQ-9 Reaper suffered the largest hit, with 24 reported losses. That is a heavy drone count in a short conflict window. The KC-135 losses also matter since these aircraft work like flying fuel stations. Lose them, and long-range air operations get harder.
The CRS report also points to a wider transparency issue. It built the list from news reports, Department of Defense statements and US Central Command updates because the Pentagon had not published a full loss sheet.
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