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[INTERNATIONAL] · United States, Iran, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia · 47 sources

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Part of situation: US-Iran war: Economic costs and escalation warnings (19 clusters)

US military aircraft losses reach 81 in Iran conflict

Operation Epic Fury MQ-9 Reaper F-15E Strike Eagle military aircraft losses Congressional Research Service

A report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) reveals that the United States has lost or damaged at least 81 military aircraft, drones, and helicopters during military operations against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, which began on February 28, 2026. The estimated financial impact of these losses ranges between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) account for a significant portion of the losses, most notably at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones. This depletion has reduced the active Reaper fleet to 135 units, falling below the U.S. Air Force's operational requirement of 189 units. Other drone losses include three MQ-1 drones and one MQ-4C Triton.

Crewed aircraft losses include 12 F-15E Strike Eagle jets. Notably, three of these were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, 2026, while another was lost over Iranian airspace in April. Additionally, eight F-15E jets sustained minor damage during Iranian strikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in September. Other notable losses include one F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter, two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, and one E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft valued at approximately $270 million.

Support and rotary-wing assets were also affected, including seven KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft, two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft, and several helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache and HH-60W Jolly Green II.

Entities

Congressional Research Service · Iran · Iran · Muwaffaq Salti Air Base · Pentagon · Prince Sultan Air Base · U.S. Air Force · United States · United States · United States Air Force · United States Central Command · United States Department of Defense

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

ABD: İran bataklığında 81 hava aracı kaybettik [www.trakyaolay.com]
الكونغرس: خسارة 81 طائرة أمريكية في حرب إيران — أرض نيوز [ardh.news]
Mỹ mất 81 máy bay quân sự và drone trị giá 3,3 tỷ USD trong cuộc chiến với Iran [giaoducthoidai.vn]
Kongres: Ukupno 81 američka letjelica izgubljena ili oštećena tokom rata s Iranom [n1info.ba]
ইরান যুদ্ধে ৮১ ফাইটার–ড্রোন ও হেলিকপ্টার হারিয়েছে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র, ক্ষতি ৩. ৩ বিলিয়ন ডলার [www.ajkerpatrika.com]
İran 81 ABD askeri uçağını vurdu [www.akishaber.com.tr]
EE. UU. confirma daños y pérdidas de 81 aeronaves en guerra contra Irán [www.periodicolea.com.ar]
تقرير أمريكي يكشف خسارة 81 طائرة ومسيّرة خلال حرب إيران - قناة المنار [almanartv.com.lb]
ایران جنگ،امریکا کے 81فوجی طیارے اور ڈرون تباہ،مالی نقصان 3. 3ارب ڈالر تک پہنچ گیا [javedch.com]
AvioBlog - Congressional report lists 81 US aircraft lost or damaged in Iran war [avioblog.it]
تقرير: الجيش الأميركي خسر أو تضررت له 81 طائرة في الحرب مع إيران - الوكيل الإخباري [s.alwakeelnews.com]
RayHaber - ABD’nin İran Operasyonlarında 81 Hava Aracı Kayıp Veya Hasarlı [rayhaber.com]
Raport Kongresu USA: Co najmniej 81 samolotów zostało uszkodzonych lub utraconych w wojnie z Iranem | Strona Mirosława Dakowskiego [dakowski.pl]
İran'dan Washington'a itiraz: Arakçi kongre raporunu paylaşarak kayıp sayısının 81'e çıktığını savundu | Haber Sitesi [www.haberport.com]
İran, ABD'nin hava aracı kayıplarının 81'e ulaştığını açıkladı [www.gazetebirlik.com]
American Report: Air Force Losses in the Iran War Are 81 Aircraft and $3. 3 Billion | الخبر اليمني [alkhabaralyemeni.net]
خسائر فادحة لسلاح الجو الأمريكي في حرب إيران. . 81 طائرة بين التدمير والأضرار [www.ypagency.net]
NEW YORK POST, ABD’NİN SAKLADIKLARINII AÇIKLADI [www.yenimesaj.com.tr]
Un rapport américain révèle l’ampleur des pertes subies par la flotte aérienne des États-Unis pendant la guerre - Site de la chaîne AlManar-Liban [french.almanar.com.lb]
ABD’nin İran operasyonlarında 81 hava aracı zarar gördü [haber.aero]
SHBA humbi 81 avionë, dronë dhe helikopterë me vlerë 3. 3 miliardë dollarë në luftën me Iranin, zbulon raporti [24-ore.com]
81 de aeronave militare americane au fost distruse sau avariate în războiul cu Iranul. Valoare se ridică la 3,3 miliarde de dolari, arată un raport al Congresului [adevarul.ro]
Araghchi challenges US account of aircraft losses in Iran war [news.az]
US military losses ‘far higher’ than govt figures: Iran FM [www.siasat.com]
Arakçi, Kongre raporundaki 81 hava aracı kaybını paylaşarak ABD'yi eleştirdi [www.sondakika.com]
تقرير جديد للكونغرس يكشف خسائر أمريكا بحرب إيران [arabic.cnn.com]
Rat s Iranom skupo košta SAD, gubici avijacije do 3,3 milijarde dolara [www.oslobodjenje.ba]
F35にE3も、イランとの戦争で米軍機81機が破壊や損傷　被害額は最大5220億円　議会報告書 [www.cnn.co.jp]
تقرير أميركي يكشف خسارة 81 طائرة ومسيّرة خلال حرب إيران [pnn.ps]
US-Kongressbericht: mindestens 81 beschädigte oder verlorene Flugzeuge im Iran-Krieg [tkp.at]
Έκθεση: Πόσα αεροπλάνα, drones και ελικόπτερα των ΗΠΑ καταστράφηκαν ή υπέστησαν ζημιές στον πόλεμο με το Ιράν [www.iefimerida.gr]
Rapora göre, ABD İran savaşında 81 uçağını kaybetti veya hasar gördü | Bağımsız Havacılar [www.bagimsizhavacilar.com]
Iran war: US loses 81 aircraft, report says [www.millenniumpost.in]
ایران جنگ؛ امریکا کے 81 فوجی طیارے اور ڈرون تباہ؛ مالی نقصان 3. 3 ارب ڈالر تک پہنچ گیا [www.express.pk]
US lost 81 planes, drones worth $3. 3B in Iran war [www.newsbytesapp.com]
CRS: US Aircraft Losses and Damages Reach 81 in Conflict With Iran [www.world-today-news.com]
Mỹ mất bao nhiêu máy bay, UAV trong xung đột ở Iran? [cafef.vn]
Las 'épicas' pérdidas aéreas de EE. UU. en su guerra contra Irán [actualidad-rt.com]
Congressional report lists 81 US aircraft lost or damaged in Iran war [www.aerotime.aero]
De 42 a 81 aeronaves: el Congreso actualiza las pérdidas de EE. UU. durante la guerra contra Irán [www.escenariomundial.com]
U. S. won’t resume strikes on Iran before midterms, Trump says - National [globalnews.ca]
US has lost or sustained damage to 81 military aircraft worth up to $3. 3 billion in Iran war, congressional report says [cbs58.com]
'Real Toll Far Higher': Iran Foreign Minister on US aircraft losses in Operation Epic Fury [www.dnaindia.com]
US puts military in ready mode for possible new strikes on Iran: Report [gulfnews.com]
81 US military fighters, helicopters, and drones have been lost or damaged in the Iran war [taskandpurpose.com]
Golf, Großbritannien: Jetzt beginnt Trumps großer Rückzug [www.focus.de]
More than 80 planes worth up to $3 billion damaged or lost in Iran war, report finds [www.independent.co.uk]