As Iran claims downing second F-35 fighter jet, here is a look at US military aircraft lost during Operation Epic Fury
US military assets worth up to $2.9 billion have been lost as the Pentagon seeks $200 billion for operations. Iran asserts it shot down a US F-35, contradicting US Central Command's claim of an emergency landing. The conflict leads to significant military losses on both sides.
Iranian authorities on Friday claimed that they shot down a US fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet using the Islamic Republic's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)’s new air-defence system on Friday. According to the spokesman of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, the crash generated a massive explosion, and the pilot is unlikely to have ejected.
Iran claims shooting down two F-35s
Iran claimed to shoot down another F-35
This is the second time since the start of the war on February 28 that Iran has claimed to have shot down a US F-35. On March 19, Iran claimed to have struck a US F-35 fighter jet.
The IRGC released a video that purportedly showed a missile hitting the aircraft mid-air.
While Iran claims to have destroyed the F-35, the US Central Command said the fifth-generation stealth jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing, without giving the specifics.
The F-35 Lightning II is widely considered the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter jet and costs more than $100 million for a single aircraft. The US has not officially responded to the Iranian claims on Friday, but based on photos circulating on social media, many aviation experts have concluded that it could be of an F-35 fighter jet.
Carnage at Prince Sultan Air Base
E-3 Sentry
The Iranian claim of shooting down the second F-35 comes days after Tehran destroyed an E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control (AEWC) aircraft in a missile and drone strike at the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
The US has not officially acknowledged the loss of an E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, but open source intelligence data on the last known location of the aircraft and the GPS coordinates of the Iranian strike’s location, along with photos of the aftermath, have led many experts to conclude that the E-3 Sentry, which is valued at $300M–$700M has been destroyed and not just damaged.
KC-135 Stratotanker
The Iranian strike on March 13 is also believed to have damaged or destroyed at least 5 KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft parked in the same airbase. One KC-135 Stratotanker is estimated to cost between $70 million and $80 million.
First KC-135 Stratotanker lost in Iraq
KC-135 Stratotanker lost in Iraq
Earlier, on March 12, a KC-135 Stratotanker had crashed in western Iraq, which once again was claimed by Iran, but the US, while acknowledging the loss, said it was not the result of hostile fire, but a midair collision involving a second KC-135, which managed to land safely.
Three F-15s shot down by Kuwait
Another case of confirmed US military asset loss was on March 1 in Kuwait, when three F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down by friendly fire.
MQ-9 Reaper drones
In addition to these, the US military is said to have lost 11–16 MQ-9 Reaper drones, which were destroyed during operations.
Assets worth over $2 billion damaged
According to a Washington Post report, in the first three weeks of the conflict, the US military assets worth $1.4 billion to $2.9 billion suffered damages or were lost completely.
As the war continues, the Pentagon is seeking an additional $200 billion in funding from Congress to support military operations as part of a supplemental funding plea to the White House.
- The US military has suffered significant losses in high-value assets during the ongoing conflict.
- Iran's claims about downing US aircraft highlight the escalating tensions and the effectiveness of their air defense systems.
- Financial implications for the US military could lead to increased funding requests from Congress.
About the Author
Bobins loves telling the human side of all stories, from the intersection of geopolitics, international relations, and conflicts around the world. In his nearly one-and-a-half-decade career as a journalist, Bobins has covered South Asia, the Middle East, and North America, from elections to mass protests and conflicts. <br> Bobins has also done extensive reporting on environmental issues, climate change, and sustainability, focusing on solutions and people working to make the planet a better place to live. <br> In 2018, Bobins was awarded by Times Internet for the impact of his story on Delhi tree cuttings. Bobins also loves telling the stories of Indian startups and the journey of their founders. <br> Total Years of Experience: 14 <br> Years of experience at LM: Bobins has been a part of Live Mint since February 2026 <br> Interests: When he is not tracking conflicts, Bobins loves to cook, travel across India, click photos, and watch documentaries on history. Past Experience: Before joining Live Mint, Bobins worked with The Indian Express, where he led the Global Breaking News coverage, Indiatimes, where he led the news team, covering everything trending, ANI, where the focus of his coverage was South Asia, and NBS News. <br> Current Role: Bobins is currently working as an Assistant Editor at Live Mint.