At least 81 US aircraft worth up to $3.3bn lost or damaged in Iran war

A report released by the Congressional Budget Office on Monday states that at least 81 United States military aircraft have been lost or damaged during Operation Epic Fury, the US-led campaign against Iran that began on February 28. The CBO estimated the replacement and damage costs for the affected aircraft at between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion as of August 1. The inventory of affected platforms named in the report includes 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighters, a single F-35A Lightning II, seven KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers and 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones. The CBO’s broader accounting of the conflict estimated that the war had cost roughly $38 billion by August 1 when factoring in expended munitions, replaced equipment, higher fuel costs and other operational expenses. Experts cited in reporting on the CBO findings pointed to the evolving nature of modern warfare, especially the proliferation of low-cost drones, as a key factor enabling adversaries to damage larger military assets. Observers noted examples from other conflicts — including drone operations in Ukraine — and pointed to recent operational changes such as the relocation of US B-1 bombers from the UK and the sudden departure of about a dozen US aircraft from RAF Fairford amid rumours of a potential drone threat. The reported hardware losses and rising costs have heightened political scrutiny in Washington. The administration’s fiscal year 2027 defence request reached $1.5 trillion earlier this year, and 45 Senate Democrats plus one independent have asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for a detailed accounting of war costs before approving further supplemental funding. The CBO also projected an additional month of conflict would cost roughly $2 billion, rising to about $3 billion if the intensity of operations increased to July levels. The Pentagon declined to provide further comment on whether the reported losses were expected or how they would affect departmental budgets. Polling cited alongside the report indicates the conflict is unpopular with many US voters, and commentators noted rising costs could factor into political debates even as some analysts expect such reports may not decisively change voter behavior ahead of upcoming elections.