According to an official report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), United States President Donald Trump’s “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran launched on 28th February led to the loss or destruction of at least 42 American military aircraft, comprising fighter jets, refuelling planes and drones. CRS offers policy and legal evaluation to the US Congress and legislative committees.
Furthermore, due to factors like categorisation, ongoing combat activities and attribution issues, the number of damaged or destroyed aircraft is likely to be revised in the future. The losses included four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, an F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, an A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, 7 KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft, an E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, 2 MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft, a HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter, alongside 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and a MQ-4C Triton drone.
The data were gathered utilising comments from the US Central Command and the Department of Defence in addition to media reporting. The United States military’s operations and replacement expenditures have also dramatically jumped as a consequence of the dispute with the majority of these costs being related to the repair and replacement of damaged or destroyed military gear.
Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W. Hurst III stated that the expected cost of US military venture in the Islamic Republic went up to $29 billion before a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on 12th May. He highlighted, “A lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair or replacement costs for equipment.”
Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, also reacted to the development and declared, “Months after initiation of war on Iran, US Congress acknowledges loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions. Our powerful Armed Forces are confirmed as 1st to strike down a touted F-35. With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises.”
Months after initiation of war on Iran, US Congress acknowledges loss of dozens of aircraft worth billions.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 19, 2026
Our powerful Armed Forces are confirmed as 1st to strike down a touted F-35.
With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises.
Trump has already suggested a $1.5 trillion defence budget for F2027, which is about a 42-44% boost above the F2026 budget. It would be among the biggest rises in modern US history if it is approved. According to reports, the Pentagon also asked for more than $200 billion in resources to speed up the development of weapons and substitute munitions in the wake of current action in the Middle East.
The tensions in West Asia escalated following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, after which Islamic regime retaliated by attacking the Israel-US forces and seizing control of the “Strait of Hormuz,” disrupting the global energy supply, creating an energy crisis for multiple economies and causing oil prices to spiral in international markets. However, a fragile ceasefire has been mediated between the two hostile sides, but the situation remains highly volatile.
