The United States has suffered significant losses in military aircraft and accumulated tens of billions of dollars in costs in the war with Iran, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. The report states that a total of 42 US aircraft have been destroyed or damaged since the start of the conflict on 28 February, while three fighter jets were lost due to “friendly fire,” with a combined value of around 300 million dollars.
Heavy losses in drones and fighter jets
According to the data, 32 aircraft have been completely destroyed, including 24 MQ‑9 Reaper drones, each valued at approximately 30 million dollars. The losses also include four F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jets.
Three of these were shot down by Kuwait’s air defence systems in a case of mistaken identification on 1 March, while another was downed by Iranian forces on 3 April. The incident led to a large‑scale rescue operation for the two crew members, which Donald Trump described as “one of the most daring operations in US history.”
Insane footage of Iranian police officers shooting at passing low flying US airforce helicopters in Southern Iran pic.twitter.com/gaeyekDJSX
— WarMonitor🇺🇦🇬🇧 (@WarMonitor3) April 3, 2026
During the operation, two MC‑130J Commando II aircraft, specially designed for covert missions, were destroyed on Iranian territory after it was deemed impossible for them to take off.
At the same time, an A‑10 Warthog support aircraft was shot down by Iranian fire, while an HH‑60W Jolly Green II helicopter was damaged by small‑arms fire during a search and rescue mission. Separate reports from US media also refer to the loss of four Little Bird special operations helicopters, although these are not included in the official Congressional count.
Attacks on bases and casualties
The report also notes that ten additional aircraft were damaged as part of Operation “Epic Fury”. Six of them were on the ground at Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia when it was hit by an Iranian attack involving missiles and drones. Among the aircraft hit was an E‑3 Sentry AWACS, one of the most valuable surveillance aircraft in the US Air Force, which was reportedly located in an unprotected area of the base. In addition, a KC‑135 refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq on 12 March, killing all six members of its crew.
The financial cost of the conflict has risen sharply, reaching 29 billion dollars, according to testimony by a Pentagon official to Congress on 12 May. Two weeks earlier, the figure stood at 25 billion dollars. Most of the spending relates to replacing munitions, repairing damaged equipment and maintaining US forces in the region.
Rising tensions
At the same time, pressure is mounting on Donald Trump to end the conflict, as Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt global markets. According to Israeli media, Trump held a tense phone call with Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the possibility of further military strikes. The Israeli prime minister is said to believe that negotiations with Tehran are unlikely to lead to an agreement, supporting a return to military action. By contrast, Trump is seeking a new deal that would require Iran to abandon its nuclear programme before any further escalation.
