June 18, 2026: The recent Iran War saw the destruction of 42 American combat or combat support aircraft lost or seriously damaged while flying some 1,200 sorties. These losses included, in early March, three F-15Es shot down and destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait. None of the flight personnel were injured. In early April an F-15E two-seat fighter bomber was shot down over Iran. The pilot and the WSO/Weapons system Officer were rescued as a result of two search-and-rescue operations. On the same day, an F-35A fighter bomber was also lost.

In mid-March ground fire damaged one F-35A during combat operations over Iran.

In early March, ground fire hit an A-10 ground attack aircraft that subsequently crashed and was later destroyed from the air during search-and-rescue operations. The pilot parachuted to the ground where he was later picked up by USAF pararescue operators.

During March two KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft collided. One aircraft crashed in Iraq, with all six flight personnel killed. The other aircraft was able to land.

In mid-March five KC-135s were damaged by an Iranian missile and drone attack while on the ground at a Saudi Arabian air base.

In late March, an E-3 AWACS/Airborne early Warning-and Control System aircraft was struck and damaged while on the ground at a Saudi Arabian air base by an Iranian missile and drone attack.

In early April two MC-130J special operations aircraft supporting search-and-rescue operations for a downed F-15E were intentionally destroyed on the ground in Iran after becoming mired in soft ground and unable to take off. All air crew were rescued.

In early April an HH-60W combat search-and-rescue helicopter was damaged by ground fire while in support of search-and-rescue operations for the downed F-15E in Iran.

The USAF also lost 24 MQ-9 Reaper surveillance/attack drones throughout the 2026 operations against Iran. In addition the USN lost a larger MQ-4C maritime reconnaissance and surveillance drone due to a crash during landing.

During the entire Iran War campaign American and Israeli warplanes hit some 13,000 targets, with about 30 percent of the targets identified and attacked by warplanes operating over Iran. During this campaign some 50,000 American personnel in America, Europe and the Middle East were needed to make these sorties possible. The attacks destroyed over 80 percent of Iranian air defense systems, nearly 500 ballistic missile storage sites, and 800 drone storage sites. In addition American and Israeli air defense forces intercepted 1,700 Iranian drones and missiles aimed at Israel and the UAE/United Arab Emirates.