At least 42 US military aircraft, including fighter jets, refuelling planes and drones, were lost or damaged during Donald Trump's mega military mission Operation Epic Fury launched against Iran on February 28, according to an official report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Retaliation and Regional Crisis
The MAGA supremo's military action pushed Tehran into fury, triggering swift retaliation that left the region on edge and deepened the crisis. The report said the number of aircraft damaged or destroyed could still change due to factors such as classification, ongoing combat activity and attribution.
List of Lost Aircraft
The losses reportedly included four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, one F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, one A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft, one E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft, one HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and one MQ-4C Triton drone.
Cost of War
The CRS, which provides policy and legal analysis to the US Congress and congressional committees, compiled the figures using media reports as well as statements from the Department of Defence and the US Central Command. During a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on May 12, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W Hurst III said the estimated cost of US military operations in Iran had risen to $29 billion.
“A lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair or replacement costs for equipment,” he said. The conflict has also triggered a sharp rise in operational and replacement costs for the United States military, with a major portion linked to the repair and replacement of damaged or destroyed military equipment. With the revised cost of $29 billion, the growing financial burden reflects the scale of combat operations and the nature of high-value assets involved.
Future Financial Implications
US media reports and defence analysts have warned that the long-term cost of conflict could rise significantly further if the operations continue. The major chunk of it will be replenishment of missile stockpiles, replacement of lost aircraft and to sustain continuous naval and air operations. US President Trump proposed a defence budget of $1.5 trillion for F2027, a roughly 42-44% increase from the budget of F2026. If approved, it will be one of the largest increases in modern US history. The Pentagon has also reportedly asked for additional funds worth more than $200 billion to replenish munitions and accelerate weapons production following sustained operations in the Middle East.
