A report by the Congressional Research Service tallied 42 United States aircraft lost or damaged during the 40 day Operation Epic Fury campaign against Iran, offering the most detailed public accounting to date. The count, based on open sources and Defense Department statements, may change as more information becomes available.

The losses began in early March when three Strike Eagle fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by a Kuwaiti fighter during active combat operations. All crew members survived. Days later, a refueling tanker crashed over western Iraq during a mission, killing six service members, the only fatalities listed in the report. Additional tankers were damaged in missile and drone strikes on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Other incidents included a Strike Eagle shot down over Iran, an attack aircraft downed during a rescue mission, and the destruction of two special operations transport planes that were unable to depart an Iranian airstrip during a recovery effort. An airborne warning and control aircraft was heavily damaged, and several rescue helicopters were hit by enemy fire.

Unmanned aircraft sustained the greatest losses, accounting for 25 of the 42 aircraft, including 24 Reaper drones. Despite the toll, Air Force leadership described the Reaper as the campaign's most valuable platform. Meanwhile, the cost of operations has risen to 29 billion dollars, driven by repair, replacement, and ongoing operational expenses.