WASHINGTON / BAGHDAD, — April 4, 2026 : Multiple US military aircraft have been destroyed or damaged during Operation Epic Fury, the US Central Command campaign launched on February 28, 2026, targeting Iranian military infrastructure. Compiled reports from official statements, media accounts, and open-source information detail the following known losses and incidents as of April 4, 2026.
Fighter and Attack Aircraft
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One F-35A Lightning II was damaged by Iranian air defense fire.
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Three F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft were shot down on March 1, 2026, in a friendly fire incident involving Kuwaiti Air Force F/A-18 aircraft. All six crew members ejected safely.
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One additional F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iranian air defense fire on April 3, 2026, over Iranian territory. One crew member was rescued during search and rescue operations; the status of the second crew member remained unknown, with efforts continuing.
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One A-10C Thunderbolt II was shot down by Iranian air defense fire on April 3, 2026. The pilot ejected and was rescued.
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One A-10C Thunderbolt II was damaged during related operations on April 3 and returned to base.
Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
- One E-3G Sentry AWACS aircraft was destroyed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia during an Iranian missile and drone attack in late March 2026. Images confirmed significant structural damage, including to the rear fuselage.
Tanker Aircraft
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One KC-135 Stratotanker crashed as a result of a mid-air collision, with all crew members reported killed in the incident.
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One KC-135 Stratotanker was damaged in the same mid-air collision and landed safely.
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One KC-135 Stratotanker was destroyed at Prince Sultan Air Base during the Iranian attack.
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Five KC-135 Stratotankers were damaged by Iranian fire while on the ground at Prince Sultan Air Base.
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One additional KC-135R Stratotanker transmitted emergency squawk code 7700 on April 3 and returned to base.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
- Seventeen MQ-9 Reaper drones were shot down by Iranian air defenses. Additional MQ-9 losses have been reported throughout the campaign, with US officials confirming more than a dozen downed prior to early April.
Helicopters
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One UH-60 helicopter was damaged by an FPV drone at an air base.
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Two HH-60G Pave Hawk (or HH-60W Jolly Green II variant) combat rescue helicopters were damaged by ground fire during a search and rescue operation on April 3. Both returned to base, with some crew members sustaining injuries.
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One CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopter was destroyed on the ground at Camp Buehring in Kuwait during an apparent Iranian one-way drone strike. Iranian state media released images of the damaged aircraft; no casualties were reported from this incident.
Over the past 10 days leading into early April 2026, reports indicated the loss or damage of 4 aircraft, 3 helicopters, and 5 drones, with approximately half of these incidents occurring within the previous 24 hours, including the April 3 events.
On April 3, described in some accounts as a particularly challenging day, the following were reported: one F-15E destroyed, one A-10C destroyed, one A-10C damaged and returned to base, one CH-47 Chinook destroyed in Kuwait, one F-16 damaged and returned to base, two HH-60W combat rescue helicopters damaged and returned to base, one F-16 transmitting squawk code 7700 over Iraq and returning to base, one KC-135R squawking 7700 and returning to base, and one MQ-9 Reaper destroyed.
These incidents occurred amid sustained US air operations involving thousands of sorties targeting Iranian air defenses, missile sites, command facilities, and related infrastructure. Iranian forces responded with air defenses, drones, and missile strikes reaching regional bases, including in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
US Central Command has not released a comprehensive official tally of all losses. Information derives from US media citing officials, Iranian state media claims (some of which US sources have disputed in prior instances), and verified imagery or tracking data where available. The campaign has involved F-15, F-16, A-10, F-35, tanker, AWACS, drone, and helicopter platforms.
Search and rescue operations for the missing F-15E crew member continued as of April 4. CENTCOM has provided periodic updates on overall operations but limited specific comments on individual aircraft incidents for operational security reasons.
Operation Epic Fury has seen over 12,000 combat flights conducted by US forces as of early April. The reported losses represent a fraction of the total aircraft deployed but highlight risks associated with high-tempo operations against layered air defenses. Further details on cumulative impacts or adjustments to tactics remain under review by US military authorities.
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