CRS listed 81 lost or damaged aircraft; CBO modeled up to $3.3 billion.
Why it matters: The figures give Congress separate measures of the Iran campaign's military impact and potential replacement costs. They could inform oversight, procurement priorities and funding debates, but the estimates cover different time periods and may not involve the same aircraft universe.
- CRS listed 81 U.S. fixed-wing, rotary-wing and uncrewed aircraft as lost or damaged from February 28 through its October 5, 2026 update.
- The CRS tally included 49 drones, 13 fighters, seven aerial-refueling aircraft and seven helicopters; 45 of the listed aircraft were MQ-9 Reapers.
- CBO estimated equipment replacement costs at $1.9 billion under existing plans, or up to $3.3 billion if the Defense Department sought supplemental funding.
- CBO estimated broader Defense Department war costs at approximately $38 billion through August 1, 2026.
The Congressional Research Service listed 81 U.S. aircraft as lost or damaged in operations against Iran from February 28 through its October 5, 2026 update. That was nearly double the 42 aircraft in CRS's May 12 version, according to the two versions of the CRS report.
The CRS-listed aircraft included 49 drones, 13 fighter aircraft, seven aerial-refueling aircraft, seven helicopters, two ground-attack aircraft, two special-operations aircraft and one reconnaissance aircraft. MQ-9 Reaper drones accounted for 45 of the listed aircraft.
CRS listed 12 F-15E Strike Eagles: three destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait, one destroyed during combat over Iran and eight damaged in an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. It also listed one F-35A damaged by Iranian ground fire and one E-3 Sentry damaged.
The CRS tally is separate from the Congressional Budget Office's September 15 estimate. CBO's estimate runs through August 1, earlier than CRS's October 5 update. CBO said equipment the Defense Department would replace by changing existing plans would cost $1.9 billion. If the Pentagon sought supplemental appropriations for all aircraft listed in its replacement scenario, the figure could reach $3.3 billion.
The $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion figures are CBO replacement-cost scenarios, not an actual cost or market valuation. The materials do not establish that either scenario covers exactly the same aircraft universe as CRS's 81 listed aircraft. CBO estimated broader Defense Department costs at approximately $38 billion through August 1, including $21.7 billion for expended munitions and $10.4 billion for increased flying hours.
CRS cautioned that its list may be revised and that some damaged aircraft may have returned to service. It is based on public reporting, government statements and a Defense Department inspector general report, rather than a comprehensive public Pentagon assessment. CBO said the Defense Department did not respond to its information requests.
By the numbers
- 81 - aircraft CRS listed as lost or damaged through October 5, 2026
- $3.3 billion - CBO's upper replacement-cost scenario with supplemental funding
- $38 billion - CBO's estimate of broader Defense Department costs through August 1, 2026
Yes, but: The CRS tally may change, and some damaged aircraft may have returned to service. CBO's replacement scenarios cover a different reporting period and are not shown to match CRS's 81 listed aircraft.