The United States military has lost or sustained damage to 81 military aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters and drones, during its ongoing war with Iran, with the estimated replacement cost reaching $3.3 billion, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

The report, released this week, put the estimated cost of the affected aircraft between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion, depending on the US Department of Defense's replacement plans.

The figures were drawn from estimates by the Congressional Budget Office.

The MQ-9 Reaper drone accounted for more than half of the reported aircraft losses.

The unmanned aircraft is used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, close air support and combat search-and-rescue operations.

Other affected aircraft include some of the US military's most sophisticated and valuable platforms, such as the F-35A fighter jet and the E-3 Sentry, a surveillance aircraft equipped with a large radar dome used for tracking targets and managing airspace.

However, the report indicated that not all the aircraft recorded as damaged were necessarily permanently out of service.

Eight F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets, for instance, reportedly sustained light damage during an Iranian strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in September, with some potentially having returned to operational service.

The aircraft losses represent only part of the financial burden of the conflict.

Sources cited by CNN estimated the overall cost of the war at no less than $45 billion, excluding damage to infrastructure at US military bases across the region.

The CRS report was compiled using information from statements by the Department of Defense, its inspector general, US Central Command, which oversees American military operations against Iran, and media reports.

It also raised concerns about the adequacy of information being provided to Congress regarding military losses, questioning whether lawmakers have sufficient details to assess the impact of the conflict and determine appropriate responses.

Among the issues identified for congressional consideration are the need to finance aircraft repairs and replacements, the capacity of the American defence industry to meet replacement demands, and the potential consequences for military equipment sales to foreign partners.

The report further warned that the loss of aircraft that are already limited in number and difficult to replace could create operational gaps beyond the Middle East.

“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,” the report stated.

The MQ-9 Reaper has been particularly affected by US military operations in the Middle East, including the conflict with Iran and earlier confrontations with Houthi rebels in Yemen, an armed group backed by Tehran.

According to a September report by the Atlantic Council, the United States had lost 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones in the Middle East during 2026, describing the rate of attrition as alarming.

The report also estimated that the US Air Force had lost approximately 35 per cent of its MQ-9 fleet since the drone entered service in 2004.

The latest findings have renewed questions about the financial and operational consequences of the Iran war, particularly the pressure on American military resources and the implications for US security commitments in other regions.