At Least 81 US Military Aircraft Damaged or Destroyed in War Against Iran: CRS Report
WASHINGTON, October 6, 2026: At least 81 US military aircraft have been damaged or destroyed during the war against Iran, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
The report said US fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles were either destroyed or damaged during military operations against Iran.
According to the CRS, MQ-9 Reaper drones suffered the highest losses, with at least 45 drones reportedly lost during operations against Iran.
The report stated that three US aircraft were destroyed in March in Kuwait as a result of friendly fire. Another F-15E fighter jet was reportedly destroyed over Iran in April.
The CRS report further said that eight F-15 fighter jets were damaged during an Iranian attack on an airbase in Jordan in September. The aircraft were subsequently returned to service.
The report also listed damage to one F-35A Lightning II fighter, two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and seven KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers.
The figures highlight the extent of US aircraft losses and damage sustained during military operations against Iran, including both combat-related incidents and friendly-fire incidents.
