US Aircraft Losses Mount Amid High-Tempo Airstrike Campaign

F-15 aircrafts prepare for take off at RAF Lakenheath in Mildenhall, England on March 18. — F-15 aircrafts prepare for take off at RAF Lakenheath in Mildenhall, England on March 18.
Photographer: Martin Pope/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

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By Gerry Doyle and Courtney McBride

March 19, 2026 at 3:34 PM UTC

Updated on

March 19, 2026 at 6:52 PM UTC

At least 16 US military aircraft have been lost since the start of the war with Iran, including 10 Reaper strike drones hit by enemy fire and a half-dozen other planes badly damaged in attacks or accidents.

The most serious losses were because of accidents: three US F-15s downed by friendly fire in Kuwait, and a KC-135 tanker destroyed during a refueling operation. All six crew members on the tanker were killed in the accident.