The downing of two US fighter jets in a single day raised the total number of manned US aircraft and drones in the conflict with Iran to 35, according to reports.
According to reports collected from various sources, multiple types of U.S. military aircraft have been damaged or destroyed across different areas of operation, including Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait.
The reports indicates that at least one F-35 Lightning II fighter jet was hit and damaged by Iranian surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. In addition, four F-15E Strike Eagles were reportedly lost, three shot down over Kuwait and one over Iran.
Close air support assets also appear affected, with one A-10 Thunderbolt II allegedly shot down by Iranian air defenses.
Among high-value assets, the report claims the destruction of one E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB), a major loss given its role in airborne surveillance and command operations. Aerial refueling capabilities were also impacted, with at least two KC-135 tankers reportedly destroyed and five more damaged.
Moreover, one HH-60M helicopter lost in Iraq and two HH-60W helicopters damaged over Iran. Meanwhile, drone losses appear substantial, with 17 MQ-9 Reaper unmanned combat aerial vehicles reportedly destroyed.
If accurate, the losses would represent a notable blow to U.S. airpower in the region, particularly given the inclusion of high-cost and strategic platforms such as the AWACS and F-35.
