According to the Wall Street Journal, the Iran war has caused significant damage to U.S. military assets, with losses and repairs estimated at $1.4 billion to $2.9 billion in the first three weeks.Much of the damage has been attributed to Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks on U.S. and allied infrastructure in the Middle East. The Pentagon is expected to explain the losses in its request for $200 billion in supplemental spending to the White House.
fighter losses
Among the most valuable losses were advanced fighter jets. On March 1, three F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft were mistakenly shot down by a Kuwaiti F/A-18, but all six crew members ejected safely. Each plane is expected to cost about $100 million.On March 19, an F-35A Lightning II also made an emergency landing, with Iran claiming it targeted the aircraft. Each F-35A is worth approximately $82.5 million.
Tanker and crew losses
The conflict also affected aerial refueling operations. A KC-135 Stratotanker crashed after colliding with another tanker over Iraq, killing six crew members.Additionally, five KC-135 aircraft were damaged when Iranian missiles struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Since the aircraft is no longer in production, the replacement is likely to be the KC-46 Pegasus, which costs approximately $165 million each.
Drone fleet under attack
Unmanned aerial systems have suffered repeated losses. More than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones have been lost since the conflict began.At least eight of them were shot down by Iranian missiles, three were destroyed on the ground, and one was shot down by a Persian Gulf state. Each MQ-9 costs at least $16 million, while newer MQ-9B models cost about $30 million.
Missile defense and radar damage
Critical surveillance and missile defense systems were also targeted. An AN/TPY-2 radar in Jordan (part of the THAAD battery pack) was hit, causing damage estimated at more than $300 million.According to reports, the AN/FPS-132 radar at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was damaged. This is a high-value system capable of tracking multiple threats simultaneously and costs approximately $1 billion.More attacks reportedly affected radar, communications and air defense systems in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Navy setback
In addition to combat-related losses, combat accidents also add to overall costs. A fire broke out on the USS Gerald R. Ford on March 12, affecting multiple parts of the ship, including living quarters. The aircraft carrier is currently undergoing maintenance in Greece.
Upgrade cost
Early economic losses reflected the scale of material losses in the conflict, even in the absence of a full-scale ground war. Overall costs are expected to rise further as operations continue, as high-value platforms, surveillance systems and drones are affected.
