Pakistan, Oct. 8 -- The US military has lost or damaged 81 aircraft during its war with Iran, according to an updated Congressional Research Service report. The revised figure nearly doubles the 42 aircraft losses recorded in an earlier report released in May. The latest assessment covers losses since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026.

The October 5 report includes fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and drones among the US military losses. MQ-9 Reaper drones account for more than half of the reported losses, with 45 destroyed during the conflict. The Air Force had 135 Reapers as of May, a sharp decline from its reported fleet of 351 in 2022.

Several high-value military assets also suffered damage during the fighting. An F-35A...