Defense News: “A newly released report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has outlined significant U.S. aircraft losses and damage sustained during Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing American military campaign against Iranian military infrastructure launched in coordination with Israel earlier this year. According to the report, U.S. forces lost or sustained damage to 42 aircraft during the opening phase of the operation, which began on February 28, 2026. The campaign has focused on strikes against Iranian missile production facilities, naval assets, air defense systems, and military infrastructure across multiple regions. The CRS report, updated on May 13, states that the figures were compiled from Department of Defense statements, U.S. Central Command releases, and publicly available reporting. The document notes that the numbers may change as operations continue and further investigations are completed. The Pentagon has conducted more than 13,000 sorties during the first 39 days of the campaign. Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W. Hurst III recently told lawmakers that the broader operational cost of the Iran campaign has reached approximately $29 billion. Defense estimates cited alongside the report indicate that replacing the affected fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned systems could exceed $7 billion, depending on procurement configurations and modernization requirements…”
Source Document – CRS Insight, May 13, 2026: U.S. Aircraft Combat Losses in Operation Epic Fury: Considerations for Congress: “On February 28, 2026, the United States, in coordination with Israel, initiated military operations against Iran under the designation Operation Epic Fury (OEF). The conflict has involved air, maritime, and missile combat engagements across the Middle East. The pace of combat activity declined amid a ceasefire in April. Within weeks, some strikes resumed, and conditions remain fluid. The Department of Defense (DOD, which is “using a secondary Department of War designation,” under Executive Order 14347 dated September 5, 2025) has not published a comprehensive assessment of combat losses in OEF. During a May 12, 2026, hearing, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W. Hurst III testified that the department’s cost estimate for military operations in Iran has increased to $29 billion. “A lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair or replacement costs for equipment,” he said.
Listed here are 42 fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, including uncrewed aircraft (i.e., drones), reportedly lost or damaged in OEF, according to news reports and statements by DOD and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The number of aircraft damaged or destroyed may remain subject to revision due to multiple factors, which may include classification, ongoing combat activity, and attribution.
