US Military Losses in the Iran Conflict

Significant Military Losses in the Conflict with Iran

Billions of dollars worth of advanced military equipment has been lost or severely damaged since the United States and Israel launched strikes against thousands of targets in Iran over the past three weeks. The majority of the damage on the ground has resulted from Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. According to Elaine McCusker, a former Pentagon budget official during the first Trump administration, the cost of battle damage and replacement of losses in the initial three weeks of the conflict is estimated to be between $1.4 billion and $2.9 billion. This higher estimate includes damage to a Qatari radar system located on a U.S. air base.

The Pentagon is considering replacing several key weapons and platforms as part of its $200 billion supplemental spending request to the White House. Here are some of the critical losses and replacements:

Aircraft Losses and Replacements

• A Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet jet fighter mistakenly shot down three American F-15E Strike Eagles on March 1. All six crew members safely ejected. A new-model F-15 today costs approximately $100 million.

• An F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter made an emergency landing on March 19, with the pilot in stable condition. Iran claims to have targeted the aircraft. An F-35A costs about $82.5 million.

• Six crew members of an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueler were killed when their plane crashed after colliding with another KC-135 over Iraq on March 12. Five more KC-135s were damaged during an Iranian missile strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The damaged aircraft are currently being repaired.

Boeing has not produced KC-135s since the 1960s, so the Air Force will likely replace the lost plane with a KC-46 Pegasus, a tanker based on a modified 767 airliner. A KC-46 costs around $165 million.

Drone Losses and Upgrades

More than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones have been lost since the war began. This includes at least eight shot down by Iranian missiles, three destroyed on the ground by Iranian missiles, and one mistakenly shot down by a Persian Gulf nation. Additional Reapers have also been damaged.

The MQ-9s flown by the Air Force, which cost at least $16 million each, are no longer manufactured by General Atomics. Instead, the newer-model MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones are being produced for the U.S. and its allies, costing around $30 million each.

Other Notable Incidents

• A fire broke out on the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford on March 12. The fire started in the main laundry space and spread to other parts of the ship, including sailors’ sleeping quarters. The carrier is now in port at Souda Bay in Greece for repairs.

• Iran attacked an AN/TPY-2 radar that is part of the Thaad missile defense battery in Jordan. The radar, used to track ballistic missiles, costs at least $300 million.

• Iran has also targeted radar, communications, and air defense systems in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. This includes damage to the Qatari AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar at Al-Udeid Air Base. The radar, capable of tracking multiple targets simultaneously, costs about $1 billion.

Conclusion

The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant financial and operational losses for the U.S. military. From aircraft and drones to critical radar systems, the damage underscores the need for substantial investment in replacements and upgrades. As the situation continues to evolve, the focus remains on maintaining operational readiness and ensuring the safety of personnel and assets.