US estimates $1.4 billion to $2.9 billion in early losses from Iran conflict

Early assessments in Washington indicate that damage sustained by US forces during the first three weeks of the conflict in the Middle East amounts to between $1.4 billion and $2.9 billion.

The estimate was outlined by Elaine McCusker, a former senior oversight official at the Pentagon now affiliated with the American Enterprise Institute, in remarks to The Wall Street Journal.

The higher-end projection includes damage to a radar system stationed at a US air base in Qatar. The newspaper reported that the Pentagon may seek to replace some affected systems as part of an additional funding request estimated at roughly $200 billion.

Aircraft and drones among damaged systems

A range of US military assets sustained damage during the course of the fighting, spanning both air and naval platforms. Among them was the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which was forced to leave the region following a fire and is currently undergoing repairs at a naval base in Crete. Officials noted that the fire was not linked to combat operations.

F-15 and F-35A fighter jets were also reported to have been damaged. Unit costs for newer F-15 variants are estimated at around $100 million, while the F-35A carries a price tag of approximately $82.5 million per aircraft.

Losses were also recorded in aerial refuelling capacity. Of six KC-135 tanker aircraft, one was destroyed and five sustained damage. Given that production of the KC-135 ceased decades ago, the lost aircraft is expected to be replaced by the newer KC-46 Pegasus, which carries an estimated unit cost of about $165 million.

On the unmanned systems front, more than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones were destroyed, with several others damaged. Each Reaper is valued at a minimum of $16 million, though production has ended. Its successor, the MQ-9B SkyGuardian developed for US and allied forces, is estimated to cost around $30 million per unit.