During the military operation Epic Fury in the Middle East, the United States lost or significantly damaged at least 42 aircraft. This is according to a Congressional report prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and published on May 13.
Notably, a significant portion of the aircraft and drones were destroyed not by Iranian forces, but due to accidents, friendly fire, and technical malfunctions.
According to the document, total losses include fighters, tankers, airborne early warning aircraft, helicopters, and many drones. The estimated value of the destroyed and damaged equipment is approximately $2.6 billion, although the actual replacement costs could rise significantly and exceed $7 billion.
The Congressional report raises questions about the readiness of the US Air Force for high-intensity conflicts, the effectiveness of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, and the vulnerability of bases in the region. Many analysts note that drone losses were particularly high, and friendly fire incidents highlight coordination problems within the multinational coalition and in a dense electromagnetic environment.
The Pentagon has so far refrained from a full public assessment of the losses, stating that it is conducting a “comprehensive diagnostic review.” Congress is already discussing the need for additional appropriations and the possible resumption of production of certain aircraft types whose manufacturing had previously been discontinued.
The Iranian side, for its part, presents these events as proof of the vulnerability of the American military machine and the “collapse of the myth of invincibility” of stealth technology.
Operation Epic Fury has become one of the costliest US air campaigns in recent decades and has already influenced budget and strategy discussions in Washington.