{"database": "openregs", "table": "crs_reports", "rows": [["IN12692", "U.S. Aircraft Combat Losses in Operation Epic Fury: Considerations for Congress", "2026-05-13T04:00:00Z", "2026-05-14T16:38:00Z", "Active", "Posts", "Jennifer DiMascio, Daniel M. Gettinger", "Fighter Aircraft, Air, Land, Sea, Space & Projection Forces, Defense Authorization, Defense Budgets & Appropriations, Defense Readiness, Training, Logistics & Installations", "Overview\nOn February 28, 2026, the United States, in coordination with Israel, initiated military operations against Iran under the designation Operation Epic Fury (OEF). The conflict has involved air, maritime, and missile combat engagements across the Middle East. The pace of combat activity declined amid a ceasefire in April. Within weeks, some strikes resumed, and conditions remain fluid. \nThe Department of Defense (DOD, which is \u201cusing a secondary Department of War designation,\u201d under Executive Order 14347 dated September 5, 2025) has not published a comprehensive assessment of combat losses in OEF. During a May 12, 2026, hearing, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules W. Hurst III testified that the department\u2019s cost estimate for military operations in Iran has increased to $29 billion. \u201cA lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair or replacement costs for equipment,\u201d he said. \nListed here are 42 fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, including uncrewed aircraft (i.e., drones), reportedly lost or damaged in OEF, according to news reports and statements by DOD and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The number of aircraft damaged or destroyed may remain subject to revision due to multiple factors, which may include classification, ongoing combat activity, and attribution.\nReports of OEF Aircraft Losses and Damage \nFour F-15E Strike Eagle fighter aircraft\nOn March 2, 2026, CENTCOM reported that three F-15Es were shot down and destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait; all six aircrew ejected safely and were recovered.\nOn April 5, 2026, CENTCOM reported that one F-15E was shot down and destroyed during combat operations over Iran; both aircrew were safely recovered during separate search-and-rescue operations.\nOne F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft\nA March 19, 2026, news article reported that Iranian ground fire damaged one F-35A during combat operations over Iran. \nOne A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft\nIn an April 6, 2026, news conference, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine stated that on April 3, enemy fire struck one A-10 that subsequently crashed and was destroyed during search-and-rescue operations; the pilot ejected and was recovered safely. \nSeven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft\nOn March 12, 2026, CENTCOM reported that two KC-135s were involved in an incident over friendly airspace; one aircraft crashed in Iraq, resulting in the deaths of all six aircrew. The second KC-135 made an emergency landing at an undisclosed location in the region where U.S. forces are hosted. \nA March 14, 2026, news article reported that five KC-135s were damaged while on the ground at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, during an Iranian missile and drone attack.\nOne E-3 Sentry airborne early warning-and-control system aircraft (AWACS)\nA March 28, 2026, news article reported that one E-3 was struck and damaged while on the ground at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, during an Iranian missile and drone attack. A May 7, 2026, news article reported that the E-3 had been parked on an unprotected taxiway.\nTwo MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft\nAn April 5, 2026, news article reported that two MC-130Js supporting search-and-rescue operations for a downed F-15E were intentionally destroyed on the ground in Iran after becoming unable to depart; all aircrew were safely evacuated. \nOne HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue helicopter\nOn April 6, 2026, General Caine said in a press conference that on April 5, one HH-60W sustained damage from small-arms fire supporting search-and-rescue operations for a downed F-15E in Iran. \nTwenty-four MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance uncrewed aircraft\nAn April 9, 2026, news article reported that the U.S. military had lost 24 MQ-9 Reapers since the start of U.S. military operations against Iran.\nOne MQ-4C Triton high-altitude long-endurance uncrewed aircraft\nAn April 14, 2026, news article citing a U.S. Navy document reported that one MQ-4C crashed in a mishap. \nPotential Issues for Congress\nThese reported incidents may raise several considerations for congressional oversight: \nInformation available to Congress. It is unclear whether DOD has provided Congress an accounting of the aircraft lost in OEF. Congress may assess whether or not it has sufficient information and time to evaluate the potential effects of aircraft losses in U.S. military operations and potential DOD plans or programs to develop or procure replacements.\nBudgetary impacts. Aircraft losses could generate unplanned costs for their replacement, repair, or sustainment. Congress may consider whether or not to approve, reject, or modify potential reprogramming actions or supplemental appropriations or to make adjustments to planned procurement and readiness accounts.\nForce sufficiency. It is unclear how the extent of aircraft losses may affect DOD\u2019s ability to meet current operational requirements, maintain global force posture, and respond to unforeseen contingencies. Congress may assess whether losses in certain high-demand platforms that are aging and limited in number, such as the E-3 Sentry, create capability gaps or increase risk in other theaters. \nIndustrial base capacity. Congress may assess whether current production lines and supply chains are capable of replacing lost aircraft within time frames needed to meet DOD operational requirements. Congress may seek information about the extent to which competing demands\u2014including foreign military sales or production constraints\u2014may affect DOD\u2019s ability to regenerate capacity.\nOperational risk. Reported losses may provide insights into the survivability of U.S. aircraft in contested environments. Congress may assess whether reported losses reflect changes in the threat environment or in adversary capabilities. Congress may also assess whether any changes to the threat might signal the need to adjust U.S. operational concepts, tactics, techniques, procedures, or basing posture.", "https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IN/PDF/IN12692/IN12692.2.pdf", "https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IN/HTML/IN12692.html"]], "columns": ["id", "title", "publish_date", "update_date", "status", "content_type", "authors", "topics", "summary", "pdf_url", "html_url"], "primary_keys": ["id"], "primary_key_values": ["IN12692"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0962920496240258, "source": "Federal Register API & Regulations.gov API", "source_url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/developers/api/v1", "license": "Public Domain (U.S. Government data)", "license_url": "https://www.regulations.gov/faq"}