The cost of the ongoing war with Iran has dramatically escalated, with the U.S. military now reporting at least 81 aircraft lost or damaged—a near doubling from five months ago, according to a new Congressional Research Service (CRS) analysis. This alarming toll includes advanced fighter jets, critical support aircraft, and dozens of drones, with the potential replacement of these high-demand, aging vehicles threatening to strain the military’s overall ability to meet global demands. The CRS report details losses such as 12 F-15E Strike Eagles, an F-35A Lightning II, seven KC-135 refueling tankers, an E-3 Sentry airborne warning-and-control aircraft, and 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones since the conflict began. While the increase partly reflects more publicly available information, the sheer number of damaged and destroyed assets, attributed to Iranian attacks, enemy fire, friendly fire, accidents, and deliberate destruction during rescue operations, is prompting warnings that capability gaps could emerge in other operational theaters. The defense industrial base is already facing questions about its capacity to replenish these losses quickly, with a Pentagon inspector general report previously highlighting significant spending on munitions and concerns about strategic inventory shortfalls. The Congressional Budget Office estimates replacement costs could range from $1.9 billion to $3.3 billion. The losses, particularly among scarce aircraft like the E-3 Sentry, underscore the vulnerability of U.S. assets and raise critical questions about Iran’s evolving capabilities and the necessity for the U.S. to adapt its equipment, tactics, and basing strategies.
Adapted from: Latest Political News on Fox News
