At least 16 US military aircraft have been lost since the start of the conflict with Iran, including 10 MQ-9 Reaper drones, according to officials cited in a Bloomberg report. Several other aircraft were also damaged in strikes and operational incidents.
A significant portion of the losses stemmed from accidents. These include three F-15 fighter jets reportedly downed by friendly fire in Kuwait and a KC-135 refuelling tanker destroyed during a mid-air operation, killing all six crew members onboard. Additionally, five KC-135 aircraft were damaged in an Iranian missile strike on a base in Saudi Arabia.
Among the unmanned systems, at least nine Reaper drones were shot down by Iranian air defences during flight, while another was destroyed on the ground at an airfield in Jordan by a ballistic missile. Two more drones were reportedly lost in accidents. The MQ-9 Reaper, designed for high-risk missions without onboard pilots, is often deployed in contested environments due to its relatively lower cost.
Analysts suggest that the scale and intensity of US operations may be contributing to the losses. The number of sorties flown in the early phase of the conflict is believed to have exceeded those carried out during the opening stages of the Gulf War. “The difference might be a much greater rate of effort,” analyst Peter Layton was quoted as saying.
Despite initial attempts to neutralise Iran’s air defence systems, the US has struggled to establish full air superiority. A US F-35 fighter jet was recently forced to make an emergency landing at a regional base after being hit by suspected Iranian fire, though the pilot survived, according to a CNN report citing a Centcom official.
US military officials have acknowledged that only “localised air superiority” has been achieved in parts of Iranian airspace, underscoring ongoing operational challenges. Active Iranian air defences are also complicating efforts to secure strategic routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Experts note that accidents are not uncommon during high-intensity combat operations. “Periodic accidents like the tragic mid-air collision with the KC-135s are an unfortunate likelihood in large, high-tempo, high-pressure combat operations,” analyst Justin Bronk said.
As the conflict enters its third week, Iran has continued regional strikes, including attacks on energy infrastructure in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, in retaliation for earlier strikes on its South Pars gas field.
