WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 20, 2026
At least 42 American military aircraft and drones were damaged or destroyed during the United States’ ongoing military campaign against Iran under Operation Epic Fury, according to a report released by the Congressional Research Service.
The operation, launched on February 28, has involved extensive aerial and drone-based military activity targeting Iranian positions and strategic assets. The newly disclosed figures highlight the scale of equipment losses suffered during the campaign and raise fresh questions about the operation’s long-term military and financial costs.
According to the report, the damaged or destroyed assets include advanced fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, helicopters, and unmanned drones.
F-15s, F-35, Reaper Drones Among Aircraft Losses
The Congressional Research Service report stated that the affected aircraft include:
- Four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets
- One F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft
- One A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft
- Seven KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft
- One E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft
- Two MC-130J Commando II aircraft
- One HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter
- Twenty-four MQ-9 Reaper drones
- One MQ-4C Triton drone
The report noted that the figures remain subject to revision because portions of the military operation remain classified and ongoing damage assessments have not yet been completed.
The Congressional Research Service said the estimates were compiled using information from the US Department of Defense, United States Central Command statements, and publicly available media reporting.
Pentagon Cost Estimates Rise Sharply
The report comes as the financial burden of Operation Epic Fury continues to increase.
During a May 12 hearing before a House appropriations subcommittee, acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W. Hurst III stated that projected operational costs linked to the Iran campaign had risen to approximately $29 billion.
According to Hurst, a significant portion of the increase stems from updated estimates related to repairing damaged military equipment and replacing destroyed assets.
Defense analysts say the loss of high-value platforms such as stealth aircraft, aerial refueling systems, and surveillance drones could substantially affect operational readiness and future deployment planning.
Questions Grow Over Scope and Sustainability of Operation
The scale of reported equipment losses is likely to intensify debate in Washington over the long-term sustainability of military operations against Iran.
While US officials have continued to describe Operation Epic Fury as strategically necessary, critics in Congress have increasingly questioned both the financial cost and the risks associated with prolonged regional escalation.
The disclosure also comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a broader military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Neither the Pentagon nor the White House has publicly disputed the aircraft loss figures referenced in the Congressional Research Service assessment.
