Washington: A congressional report has said that at least 42 US aircraft were lost or damaged during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, including fighter jets and MQ-9 Reaper drones, while the Pentagon’s estimate for the cost of military operations in Iran has climbed to USD 29 billion, PTI reported.
The report, compiled by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), said the number of aircraft damaged or destroyed remains subject to revision because of factors such as classification, continuing co
mbat activity and attribution.
The aircraft losses and damage included four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, one F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, one A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft, one E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft, one HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and one MQ-4C Triton drone.
The Congressional Research Service said it built its assessment from news coverage as well as statements issued by the Department of Defence and US Central Command.
Meanwhile, at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on May 12, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W Hurst III said the cost of military operations in Iran had climbed to USD 29 billion.
He added, “A lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair or replacement costs for equipment.”