A Congressional Budget Office report released Monday estimates that at least 81 United States military aircraft have been lost or damaged during Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign against Iran launched in February. The financial impact of these losses stands between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion as of August 1.
The data highlights the escalating price tag of a conflict that has now entered its eighth month without a lasting ceasefire. The report details specific hardware affected, including 12 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, one F-35A Lightning II jet, and seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft. Drones accounted for the majority of the losses, with 45 of the 81 identified aircraft being MQ-9 Reapers.
Asymmetrical Warfare and Drone Vulnerabilities
Harlan Ullman, a former naval officer and chairman of the Killowen Group, told Al Jazeera that the damage illustrates the asymmetries of modern combat. He noted that even nations with smaller militaries can inflict significant damage on superior forces using widely available technology.
“Iran has plenty of US targets available, and you can imagine what a small drone can do to a major military asset,” Ullman said. He pointed to similar tactics used in the Gulf region and the conflict in Ukraine, where Kyiv has used drones to challenge Russian military assets.
The threat of drone attacks has also forced operational changes for US forces. Rumors of a potential strike on Royal Air Force Fairford in the United Kingdom led to the sudden departure of a dozen US aircraft on Sunday. Ullman cited the relocation of B-1 bombers from the UK as another example of the defensive posture forced by these low-cost threats.
Political Pressure and War Costs
The rising expenses have intensified scrutiny in Congress. The Pentagon stated it had nothing further to provide regarding whether the losses were expected or how they would impact the department’s budget. Meanwhile, the CBO estimated in a separate September report that the total cost of the war reached approximately $38 billion by August 1. This figure includes munitions, equipment, fuel, and operations.
Lawmakers are demanding greater transparency before approving additional funds. Last month, 45 Senate Democrats and one independent wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They argued that taxpayers have already absorbed billions in higher prices for fuel, groceries, and housing due to the conflict.
“Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan,” the senators wrote in their open letter. The administration had previously requested a record $1.5 trillion in defense spending for fiscal year 2027 to cover war demands.
The CBO warned that an additional month of conflict would cost $2 billion. If fighting intensity returns to July levels, that monthly cost could rise to $3 billion. Polls show the war is widely unpopular among US voters, though analysts remain divided on whether the financial reports will sway the upcoming midterm elections.
Source: Al Jazeera
