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81 US military fighters, helicopters, and drones have been lost or damaged in the Iran war

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load an inert munition onto an F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Oct. 2, 2026. The Airmen competed in the 3rd Quarter Load Competition in which seven aircraft maintenance teams were assessed on their technical, mental, and physical proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heather Amador Paulino)
A congressional report tallied the U.S. aircraft lost and damaged in the Iran war, which included fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heather Amador Paulino. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heather Amador Paulino.
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Automatically curated summary from Task & Purpose.

According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, 81 U.S. military fighters, helicopters, and drones have been lost or damaged during operations involving Iran. The CRS compiled the tallies using public news reports and official statements after the Pentagon failed to respond to inquiries. Financial estimates for overall war costs exceed $33 billion, with equipment losses estimated between $1.9 billion and $3.7 billion by oversight agencies. Additionally, a Congressional Budget Office report warned that ongoing operations pose significant risks to U.S. missile interceptor stockpiles.

Context and limitations

The CRS relied on open-source information and news reports because the Pentagon did not respond to official inquiries. Total loss figures and timeline estimates vary between the Congressional Budget Office and the Inspector General reports.

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