A total of 81 U.S. military aircraft have been destroyed or damaged during the ongoing war with Iran, according to a new report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. The losses are valued at up to $3.3 billion, the report states.
The losses come amid growing concerns about the escalating cost of the war, which has exceeded seven months, per Military.com.
In related news, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 concluded a 10-month combat deployment aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on Oct. 8, according to DVIDS. The air wing, which embarked Nov. 21, 2025, served as the primary offensive power for the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group during Operation Epic Fury in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
Over the course of the deployment, the air wing completed 14,037 aircraft sorties and accumulated 31,460 forward-deployed flight hours, per DVIDS. Operation Epic Fury was initiated under a direct presidential order Feb. 28. In response, CVW-9 launched into a 38-day air and sea campaign, expending 1,499 precision weapons and delivering over 1.37 million pounds of ordnance against U.S. Central Command priority targets, before an early April ceasefire.
“The rapid mobilization and combat execution of CVW-9 during Operation Epic Fury demonstrated the unmatched flexibility of a U.S. Navy carrier strike group,” said Navy Capt. J.W. Stigi, commander of CVW-9, in a statement. “Pairing fifth-generation F-35C stealth and sensor fusion with fourth-generation workhorse strike and electronic attack platforms, Team Shogun destroyed Iran’s conventional Navy and secured vital maritime chokepoints in support of our commander’s objectives.”
Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) departed Thursday from Phuket, Thailand, following a port visit that began on Sunday, per USNI News. Phuket was the carrier’s first port visit since it deployed in March from Norfolk, Va. For the last six months, the carrier and its strike group have supported Operation Epic Fury and the U.S. naval blockade in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
Separately, three Soldiers with the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Artillery, received the Purple Heart medal on Oct. 1 at Fort Hood, Texas, for their actions during a missile attack at Prince Sultan Air Base in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, on March 27, per DVIDS. Sgt. Xavier Jones, Staff Sgt. Kalob Mitchell and Spc. Nicholas Cabo rushed to Bunker 100 after the “Alarm Red” warning sounded; seconds later, a 550-pound ballistic missile exploded yards from the bunker, throwing them from their position and knocking all three unconscious. Despite their own injuries, they applied tourniquets, treated another Soldier with a neck injury and helped evacuate the bunker. The Purple Heart approvals were approved by the Department of the Army July 17.
Sources: Military.com · USNI News