At least 81 US aircraft worth up to $3.3bn lost or damaged in Iran war — SkimNews
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- CBO report documented at least 81 US military aircraft lost or damaged during Operation Epic Fury, the US campaign against Iran launched February 28, estimating the cost between $1.9bn and $3.3bn as of August 1
- Aircraft affected include 12 F-15E Strike Eagles, one F-35A Lightning II, seven KC-135 Stratotanker refueling planes, and 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones
- A separate September CBO report estimated total war costs at roughly $38bn as of August 1, with each additional month priced at $2bn — or $3bn at July's intensity level
- 45 Senate Democrats and one independent wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding transparent cost accounting, arguing taxpayers have already paid $100bn in higher gas and diesel prices and another $60bn in higher groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets from the war
- Trump's administration requested a record $1.5 trillion in defense spending for fiscal year 2027, citing the war's demands and drawing skepticism in Congress
- Former naval officer Harlan Ullman said Iran has achieved notable success damaging US military hardware and bases, arguing small drone forces can threaten major military assets — pointing to the relocation of B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in the UK and the Sunday departure of a dozen US aircraft from the British base on drone-attack rumors
Why it matters: The $1.9–3.3 billion aircraft loss estimate lands as 46 senators publicly demand war-cost transparency and Trump's own $1.5 trillion FY2027 defense request faces a skeptical Congress, with midterm voters weighing rising gas and grocery costs directly tied to the conflict by Democrats' letter.
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