PNN – The Congressional Research Service report says that the US Air Force has lost a total of 42 aircraft in military operations against Iran, including F-15E and F-35A fighters and MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-4C Triton drones.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; The Congressional Research Service report says that the US Air Force has lost a total of 42 aircraft in military operations against Iran, including F-15E and F-35A fighters and MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-4C Triton drones.
The report quoted Sputnik as saying: Here is a list of 42 fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, including drones that have been damaged or destroyed, according to news reports and statements from the U.S. Department of War and U.S. Central Command.
The most significant damage was to drones; 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and one MQ-4C Triton drone were destroyed by the US Navy.
The report also notes heavy damage to tanker aircraft. Seven KC-135 Stratotanker tankers were taken out of service; one crashed in Iraq, killing six crew members, and five others were damaged in a missile and drone attack in Saudi Arabia in March.
Among manned combat aircraft, the US lost four F-15E Strike Eagles; three were shot down over Kuwait and one was shot down by Iranian air defenses. An A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft was also destroyed.
The US military lost two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft during operations in Iran, according to the report. An HH-60W Jolly Green II attack helicopter was also damaged.
An E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft, which was stationed on an unprotected runway, was also damaged in the attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
The report also reports that a fifth-generation fighter, the F-35A Lightening II, was damaged.
Meanwhile, according to the Iran War Cost Tracking System, the Trump administration has so far spent more than $85 billion on the war against Iran, nearly three times the previous estimate of $29 billion announced by Jules W. Hurst III, the department’s deputy secretary of war and chief financial officer.