US military reports loss or damage to 81 aircraft, drones and helicopters in conflict

The United States military says it has lost or sustained damage to at least 81 aircraft, drones and helicopters since beginning its war against Iran, with total losses estimated at up to $3.3 billion.

Among the losses are an F‑35A Lightning II, twelve F‑15E Strike Eagles, three F‑15Es shot down in a friendly‑fire incident over Kuwait on March 2, another F‑15E downed over Iran in April, and eight F‑15Es with minor damage from Iranian strikes on Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on September 9‑10; the Air Force also lost at least 45 MQ‑9 Reaper drones, reducing its operational Reaper fleet to 135 aircraft while it must maintain at least 189 deployable Reapers.