US lost 42 aircraft, including fighter jets and drones, in Iran war: Congressional study

At least 42 United States military aircraft, including fighter jets and drones, were lost or damaged in the country’s war on Iran, a study recently published by the US Congressional Research Service said.

The study published on May 13 is based on news reports, and statements made by the US Department of War and the US military. It added a caveat that the number is subject to revision because of “classification, ongoing combat activity and attribution”.

The aircraft that were lost include four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, three of which were shot down on March 2 in what the US military described as “friendly fire incidents” over Kuwait.

The fourth was shot down on April 5 during combat operations over Iran. The crew members flying this aircraft had been rescued by US forces from inside Iran.

Other aircraft that were lost include one F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jet, one A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, seven KC-135 Stratotankers that are used for aerial refuelling, one E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft and two MC-130J Commando II special operations planes.

The list also mentioned the reported loss of 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones, one MQ-4C Triton drone and one HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter.

The US Department of War’s cost estimate for the operations in...

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