US Loses 81 Military Aircraft, Suffering $4.4 Trillion Won in Losses

The United States lost 81 military aircraft in the war with Iran, suffering losses of up to $3.3 billion (about 4.4 trillion won), it has been confirmed. According to a Congressional Research Service report, more than half of the losses were 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, the main unmanned attack aircraft used for intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance, and close air support (attacks aiding friendly forces on the ground). The stealth fighter (a jet difficult to detect by enemy radar) F-35A and the E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft (an aircraft that monitors a wide airspace and directs friendly forces) also appeared on the loss list.

The total cost of the Iran war was found to reach at least $45 billion (about 60.4 trillion won). However, this figure does not include the cost of damage to infrastructure at US military bases in the Middle East.

The report was compiled based on figures from statements by the US Department of Defense and Central Command (CENTCOM), as well as news coverage reviewed by the Congressional Research Service.