U.S. Aircraft Losses in the Iran War

The United States launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, 2026. This large-scale military campaign involves airstrikes, drone operations, and support missions across the region. As with any active conflict, aircraft losses occur due to combat, accidents, friendly fire, and other factors.

Information comes from open-source reports, news outlets, and official statements. Exact numbers can vary because of the fog of war, differing claims between the U.S. and Iran, and security restrictions on details. No single official public list exists yet.

Summary of Reported Losses

• Manned fixed-wing aircraft destroyed or written off: At least 7 (some reports mention up to 8–9 when including certain incidents).

• Helicopters and special operations aircraft: Several damaged; 2–6 fully lost or deliberately destroyed during rescue missions.

• Unmanned MQ-9 Reaper drones: Approximately 16–17.

• Overall estimated cost: Losses and damage to U.S. aircraft are reported in the range of $2–5 billion, depending on what is counted (replacements, repairs, and destroyed assets).

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Simple List of Main Losses

• 3 × F-15E Strike Eagle fighters: Shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in a friendly-fire incident over Kuwait. All 6 crew members ejected safely.

• 1 × KC-135 Stratotanker: Crashed after a mid-air collision during refueling over western Iraq. All 6 crew members were killed. Additional KC-135 tankers were damaged on the ground at bases in Saudi Arabia.

• 1 × E-3 Sentry AWACS (airborne warning plane): Destroyed on the ground during Iranian strikes on a base in Saudi Arabia. At least one more may have been damaged.

• Approximately 16–17 × MQ-9 Reaper drones: Shot down by Iranian forces, pro-Iran militias, or lost in crashes across the theater.

1 × F-15E Strike Eagle: Shot down by Iranian air defenses over southwestern Iran. This was the first confirmed direct loss of a U.S. manned combat aircraft to enemy fire in the war. Both crew members ejected safely. One was rescued the same day; the second required a high-risk rescue operation.

• 1 × A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog): Hit by Iranian fire in a separate incident (reported near the Persian Gulf area). The pilot ejected safely and was recovered.

April 3–5 Rescue Mission (High-Risk CSAR Operation):

A daring Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission successfully recovered the second F-15E crew member after nearly 48 hours of evasion in rugged Iranian terrain. No U.S. fatalities occurred during the rescue, and President Trump publicly confirmed the airman was safe.

During this complex operation:

• 2 × C-130 / MC-130 transport aircraft: Became stuck at a remote site (due to terrain or mechanical issues) and were deliberately destroyed by U.S. forces to prevent sensitive technology from falling into Iranian hands.

• Several helicopters (reports mention 2–4 MH-6/AH-6 Little Bird types or similar): Destroyed or left behind and demolished for the same reason. Some Black Hawk helicopters were hit by fire but returned safely to base.

• At least 1 additional MQ-9 Reaper drone lost in support of the mission.

U.S. officials describe these as self-demolitions to protect classified equipment, a standard procedure in high-risk areas. Iran claims it shot down multiple U.S. aircraft (including Black Hawks and transports) and released footage of wreckage.

The war remains active, and new details may emerge as operations continue. Official U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) updates and major news organizations provide the most reliable information as it develops. After all of this I still ask the same question: Why?