{"id":41095,"date":"2026-05-19T11:56:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T10:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/?p=41095"},"modified":"2026-05-19T13:44:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T12:44:42","slug":"us-aircraft-losses-iran-7-billion-replacement-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/us-aircraft-losses-iran-7-billion-replacement-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"The rising cost of Operation Epic Fury: US aircraft losses could hit $7bn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The US has lost billions of dollars of aircraft so far during its Operation Epic Fury (OEF)<\/span><\/a><\/strong> in Iran, according to a recently published Defence and Intelligence report prepared for Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report lists 42 fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, including uncrewed aircraft (drones), that were reportedly lost or damaged in OEF, based on news reports and statements from the Department of Defence and US Central Command (CENTCOM). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the DOD has not yet published a comprehensive assessment of combat losses in OEF, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W. Hurst III testified during a May 12 hearing that the department’s cost estimate for military operations in Iran has risen to $29 billion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair or replacement costs for equipment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The list of US aircraft losses in Iran so far<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the number of aircraft damaged or destroyed could be revised, the report cites the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter aircraft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the F-15E<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is out of production, its replacement is the F-15EX<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. In the FY27 Air Force plan, the cost is estimated at $125 million each (based on $3.0 billion for 24 F-15EX aircraft<\/span><\/strong><\/a>). The total replacement cost for the four aircraft would be $500 million.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"USAF
Photo: USAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The replacement cost would be $195 million, based on the US Air Force budget request of $7.4bn for 38.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lightning
Photo: USAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Replacing a lost A-10 Thunderbolt<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, which has been out of production since 1984, would likely require a new F-35A at a cost of $195 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A USAF-operated A-10C Thunderbolt II (serial 79-0157\/’FT’) pulls away from a tanker during a mission in support of Operation Epic Fury in February 2026. Image: US CENTCOM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The out-of-production aircraft would be replaced by KC-46As<\/a><\/span><\/strong> at a cost of $260 million each, based on a USAF budget estimate of $3.9 billion for 15 aircraft. The total replacement cost would be $1.8 billion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"US
Photo: USAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One E-3 Sentry airborne early warning-and-control system aircraft (AWACS)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The E-3 Sentry<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is no longer in production, and the fleet is shrinking. In 2024, Boeing received a $2.56 billion contract from the United States Air Force for two rapid prototype E-7A AEW&C Wedgetail<\/span><\/a><\/strong> aircraft to replace the E-3 Sentry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Boeing
Photo: USAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, the Department of Defence cancelled the program in 2025, with plans to use satellite-based ISR systems instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US Pentagon is reportedly rethinking its decision to cancel the E-7 replacement programme<\/span><\/strong><\/a> and is considering adding the E-7 back into its budget, as the Iran conflict has highlighted the strategic value of the E-3 Sentry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The US Air Force fact sheet<\/span><\/strong><\/a> values this aircraft at $114.2 million each, as of FY22, though it is not currently running in production. Lockheed Martin delivered AFSOC\u2019s final planned MC-130J<\/span><\/a><\/strong> in December 2024 after a production run lasting more than 14 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Photo: USAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While the Air Force has completed procurement of the MC-130J Commando II, Lockheed continues to produce the underlying C-130J Super Hercules<\/span><\/a><\/strong> platform, so replacement aircraft could still be built\u2014though likely at a higher cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue helicopter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The HH-60W Jolly Green II<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is significantly more expensive than a standard UH-60 Black Hawk because it incorporates advanced combat rescue systems, expanded fuel capacity, defensive suites, aerial refuelling capability and specialised communications equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"US
US airmen unload a HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) helicopter from a C-17A at an undisclosed location in the Middle East on 31 January 2026. Image: USAF\/Senior Airman Kari Degraffenreed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The FY2021 Selected Acquisition Report for the HH-60W programme<\/span><\/strong><\/a> shows an acquisition cost of about $7.5 billion for a planned fleet of 113 aircraft (which was later reduced, raising unit costs), with each aircraft costing approximately $66\u2013$70 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Replacing a single HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter would likely cost the Pentagon roughly $70 million to $80 million in today\u2019s dollars, before accounting for support equipment and training costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twenty-four MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance uncrewed aircraft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

MQ-9 Reaper drones can cost around $30 million dollars each<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, depending on their configuration. Replacing the 24 lost units might cost the Pentagon around $720 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"US
Photo: US Air Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One MQ-4C Triton high-altitude long-endurance uncrewed aircraft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The specialised MQ-4C Triton naval surveillance drone, which reportedly crashed in a mishap, comes with a hefty price tag estimated between $235-$250 million. The high costs of the programme have limited the fleet to only 20 active aircraft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A US Navy-operated MQ-4C Triton HALE UAV (BuNo 169660) on the ground at NAS Sigonella, Italy, on 2 July 2024. Image: US Navy\/Alex Delgado<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft costs of an extended campaign in Iran<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The initial estimates of lost aircraft presented to Congress may still be revised upward as the Iran campaign continues, but based on the Congressional report and available aircraft cost estimates, the tally of fleet losses could exceed $4 billion so far. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That does not account for the additional costs and delays of launching replacement aircraft programs that were halted or have been completed, nor the costs of support equipment and training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The possible relaunch of the E-7 prototype programme would likely now cost more than the $2.56 billion Boeing quoted in 2024, potentially raising the OEF aircraft bill to around $7 billion.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are only our estimates based on available aircraft prices, but by any calculation, Operation Epic Fury is proving as expensive as it is extensive.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Get all the latest defence news from AGN here. <\/span>\n Get all the latest defence news from AGN here. <\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n

Featured Image: US CENTCOM<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to a Defence and Intelligence report presented to Congess, the US has lost 42 aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, with operations in Iran costing $29 billion. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":38437,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,6],"tags":[7555,8090,8311,5027,2923,6116,8012,6056,7535,10112,8923,11202,11113],"class_list":["post-41095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-defence","category-trending-articles","tag-boeing-e-3-sentry","tag-boeing-f-15e-strike-eagle","tag-department-of-defense","tag-e-7a-wedgetail","tag-f-15ex","tag-f-35a","tag-fairchild-a-10c-thunderbolt-ii","tag-kc-46a","tag-lockheed-mc-130j","tag-mq-9a-reaper","tag-northrop-grumman-mq-4c-triton","tag-operation-epic-fury","tag-us-central-command-centcom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOperation Epic Fury: Aircraft losses in Iran could reach $7 billion<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A recent congressional report cites 42 US aircraft losses during Operation Epic Fury. 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