From "F-35" to "Reaper".. A painful blow to the American air arsenal and the loss of dozens of the world's most expensive aircraft

Washington - Afaq News - A new report issued by the U.S. Congressional Research Service revealed that at least 81 aircraft have been lost or damaged since the fighting began in late February, including some of the most expensive and advanced aircraft in the world.

According to figures published by the New York Post on Wednesday, the estimated value of direct losses and damages is around $3.3 billion.

Among the damaged aircraft, 12 F-15E Strike Eagles were reported. Three of them, each valued at over $30 million, were accidentally shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait on March 2, while another aircraft of the same model was shot down over Iran the following month.

Additionally, eight F-15E aircraft sustained minor damage in Iranian attacks on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in early September; however, according to the report, they were repaired and returned to operational service.

The U.S. fleet of drones, led by the MQ-9 Reaper, took a significant hit. The report indicates that the United States lost at least 45 aircraft of this type, with each estimated to cost between $30 and $50 million.

These losses have reduced the remaining Reaper fleet to only 135 aircraft, a number that places the U.S. Air Force below the minimum target of 189 drones necessary for continuous operational deployment, as revealed by an American general in his testimony before the Senate in May.

Additionally, the campaign has inflicted severe damage on expensive assets. A stealth fighter jet, the F-35A Lightning II, which costs over $92 million per unit, was hit by Iranian fire on March 19.

Reports also indicated the loss of an E-3 Sentry airborne command and control aircraft, valued at approximately $270 million, along with damage to KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft, MC-130J special operations aircraft, a combat rescue helicopter, unmanned maritime patrol aircraft, and various attack helicopters such as Apache and Bell.

The report's authors confirm that the figure of 81 aircraft includes those that were completely destroyed and those that sustained minor damage, with some returning to service after repairs.

Although the financial estimate of $3.3 billion focuses on the direct value of the equipment, it does not detail the costs associated with flight hours, armament, maintenance, and base defense. Together, this data forms a comprehensive picture of the ongoing losses in the U.S. Air Force, affected not only by direct combat and friendly fire but also by direct strikes on bases in the region.