Operation Epic Fury has highlighted the true cost of war. These costs extend beyond human lives and physical destruction to include significant material and financial losses borne by the US military.

So far, the conflict has cost the US military approximately $28 billion as of April 1. If the war continues at a similar pace, estimates suggest this could rise to around $47 billion by the end of April. Operation Epic Fury has placed considerable strain on US resources.

The US Air Force, in particular, has suffered notable losses. One F-35 Lightning fighter jet was hit and damaged by an Iranian surface-to-air missile—the first such recorded incident. Three Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles were lost to friendly fire in Kuwait, while another was shot down over Iranian territory. Two Boeing KC-135 tankers collided and were damaged beyond repair, with five more sustaining damage. At Prince Sultan Air Base, one Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft was destroyed.

Additionally, seventeen General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) have been destroyed. During a recent combat search-and-rescue operation to recover downed pilots, the US lost two Lockheed Martin MC-130J aircraft, one Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt, and two Boeing MH-6 Little Bird helicopters.

Aircraft losses and damage alone account for approximately $1.8 billion. In comparison, the 2003 Iraq War saw only three aircraft losses, while the 1991 Gulf War recorded around 40. This past month has therefore been exceptionally costly for US aviation.

Further, a Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton crashed in the Persian Gulf on April 9 during ongoing tensions. The US Navy classified the incident as a Class A mishap, indicating total loss. Valued at up to $240 million, the Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance drone designed for wide-area maritime surveillance. The exact cause remains unknown, though reports suggest a loss of communication mid-flight.

Ayaan Ahmad and Arjun Dev Singh