From Iraq to Iran: What the latest war revealed about US airpower

April 10, 2026

TL;DR

The US has suffered heavy military aircraft losses in the war on Iran, exceeding those from the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Iran's downing of an F-35 marks the first combat loss of a US fighter jet in 23 years.
The US has lost at least 44 aircraft, including F-15Es, A-10s, C-130s, E-3 Sentries, KC-135 Stratotankers, and MQ-9 Reapers.
Iranian strikes on regional airbases damaged high-value AWACS and KC-135 tankers.
Iran targeted US ground radars, early-warning radars, and communication nodes with ballistic missiles and Shahed drones.
Iran's attrition strategy aimed to increase costs for the US by using IRST systems and IR missiles against aircraft.
Iran may have used Chinese advanced surveillance radars (YLC-8B, YLC-8E) capable of detecting stealth aircraft.
US losses were exacerbated by a lack of coordination with Gulf countries and exposed assets.
Iran successfully hid mobile air defense systems, ambushing US planes and turning the conflict into a war of attrition.
The conflict has depleted US military resources and contributed to a global economic downturn.
Israel has had minimal losses due to hardened shelters and advanced air defense systems.
The Iranian Air Force was largely neutralized early in the conflict but its air defenses survived sufficiently to engage adversary assets.

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