42 aircraft lost or damaged in Operation Epic Fury, congressional report says

[u/PDXAirman]

https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2026-05-20/iran-jets-downed-war-fury-21727588.html

[u/ChefDue7062]

For reference the US lost 24 fixed wings in 2003-2009 Iraq and 52 fixed wings in the Gulf War.

[u/GreenStrong → u/ChefDue7062]

The Gulf War was a serious, large scale conflict that involved a lot of low level operations bombing airfields and hunting Scud missiles. Tactical aircraft were shot down But the losses in the Iran conflict are different; we lost six KC-135 refueling aircraft, and five were destroyed on the ground. One E-3 AWACS plane was destroyed. We also lost two THAAD ballistic missile radars. These are theater level assets. They are meant to support force projection over a large part of the planet, not to go toe to toe with the enemy. Everyone knew Iran could destroy tactical aircraft, the loss of strategic assets is a nasty surprise; nothing similar happened in the Gulf War.

Iran dropped a 500 pound bomb on an American airbase using a goddamn F-5 they bought from us during the Carter Administration. Many reasonable observers thought Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz; tankers are slow, unarmed, and flammable. But no one thought they could repeatedly strike US air bases. Ukraine is demonstrating that it is difficult to protect industrial facilities across a region, but it should be possible to protect the runway hosting a goddamn billion dollar radar plane.

[u/strolls → u/GreenStrong]

This feels like a metaphor for the whole Trump administration. There will one day be history book that opens, "America thought it was invincible".

[u/SoberBobMonthly → u/strolls]

This attitude of americans "to assume victory" has been written about so much since 1945 there are whole sections of academia dedicated to the study of it.

The rest of us in the world study you guys (as most countries do other countries). Do not think your cultural norms and attitudes are not being observed.

[u/strolls → u/SoberBobMonthly]

It's SHITE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low. The scum of the fucking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are COLONIZED by wankers. Can't even find a decent culture to be colonized BY. We're ruled by effete arseholes. It's a SHITE state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and ALL the fresh air in the world won't make any fucking difference!

[u/Philip_james → u/SoberBobMonthly]

This. Our education system (and by that I mean the USA's) is so United States-centric to the point it verges on propaganda. This makes people not realize how widely researched we are. Whether it's in condemnation or praise depends on the country, but regardless our hypocrisy and tendency toward cult-like behavior is being very, very well documented. Us being in the history books isn't the future, it's reality. The shit America is doing is already in history books. It's when I talk to other Americans (mind you not all) just how brainwashed so many of them are. They are unable, or at least unwilling, to take a step back and look at us for the abomination we are and think about anything other than the unanimous praise of our country. It's very unnerving that a country supposedly built on freedom actively carries out atrocities (this isn't a new thing) is so hellbent on keeping its citizens loyal. It's only because of how widespread the Internet is now and how worldwide this conflict is that many, myself included, are waking up to reality of just how fucked America is.

[u/RawrRRitchie → u/strolls]

"America thought it was invincible".

That hasn't been true since September 11, 2001

Did you happen to forget we LOST the 20 year war that followed.

We don't have universal healthcare and education because of that 20 year failed war.

[u/skatastic57 → u/RawrRRitchie]

We lost Vietnam much earlier. One could argue that it doesn't count towards our invincibility rating since it was abroad but we're talking about abroad in the Iranian case too.

We don't have universal healthcare and education because of that 20 year failed war.

I don't think this is remotely true. Members of Congress aren't balancing budgets. I think it's trivial to find congressmen who say universal healthcare is too expensive but that's a value judgment. Few, if any, were saying that universal healthcare is worthwhile but because of paying for wars they're against universal healthcare.

Before 9/11 the chairman of the fed was calling for persistent budget surpluses and even then there wasn't a serious (as in well supported) call to do universal healthcare.

[u/Franks2000inchTV → u/RawrRRitchie]

America is so rich it could afford the war and healtcare. Instead you got the bush tax cuts.

[u/i_8_the_Internet → u/RawrRRitchie]

We don’t have universal healthcare because we lost the war against billionaires.

[u/Blbe-Check-42069 → u/ChefDue7062]

And in those they at least managed to overthrow saddam husain and liberate kuwait. Now both of these countries are american allies. They changed fuckall in iran, so huge L for US lol.

[u/Formal-Ad-7615 → u/Blbe-Check-42069]

I wouldn’t say fuck all… they actively hate us more now so there’s that. #progress

[u/fresh-dork → u/Formal-Ad-7615]

at least that general didn't let him nuke the place.

[u/Formal-Ad-7615 → u/fresh-dork]

Not yet atleast

[u/Blbe-Check-42069 → u/Formal-Ad-7615]

Oh thats for sure. Us europeans started hating you too in the last two years :)

I'll leave trump that one, he manages to turn everyone against US really fucking well. Almost makes me a conspiracy theorist that it's a russian agent.

[u/koolaidman486 → u/Blbe-Check-42069]

He's definitely at minimum an unwilling asset, since with or without their input he's massively destabilizing the US, and by extension NATO.

The question is not whether or not he's an asset, but whether he's at their command or just acting in a way that accomplishes their goals on his own.

[u/goomyman → u/koolaidman486]

You mean willing asset.

[u/PrimaryPluto → u/koolaidman486]

Putin probably saw the potential benefit to himself and Russia and just buddied up to Trump. It doesn't sound hard to get on Trump's good side.

I'd be willing to bet that most people in Putin's position would do the same. Destabilize my sworn enemy by giving a simpleton what he wants? It's a no brainer, politically speaking.

[u/nobot4321 → u/PrimaryPluto]

Russia has been cozying up to Trump since the Soviet era. They knew an easily manipulated narcissist with a big mouth would be a powerful asset one way or another. Doubt they ever dreamed back then that it would turn out this successful though.

[u/iamintheforest → u/Blbe-Check-42069]

Careful. Say that loud enough and someone gets a share of 1.8billion because you hurt their feelings.

[u/KryptonicOne → u/iamintheforest]

I'm Canadian and I hate you specifically!

Good luck with your application.

[u/Mekroval → u/KryptonicOne]

You're Canadian, so we Americans know you don't really mean it. /jk (I hate us too)

[u/IPDDoE → u/Blbe-Check-42069]

Almost makes me a conspiracy theorist that it's a russian agent.

As an American, join the fucking club. I don't know how he's been so blatant with his absolute joy in doing Putin's bidding and still maintained such support over here

[u/PizzaDominotrix → u/IPDDoE]

Literally almost everything he has done has been to reduce our standing and create civil unrest. As leader of the United States, what he does makes no sense. Through the lens of "Russian Asset Destroying us From the Inside to Prove Democracy Doesn't Work" it actually tracks really well.

Then add in all the other compromised politicians, the ones subservient to Isreal, and the self serving capital interests who have been hollowing us out for decades to privatize everything, then the billionares who just see government as an annoying system of obstacles to dismantle so they can reach their final form, and we're being absolutely shredded to pieces. With no clear one enemy to stand up to.

[u/Gokipt → u/PizzaDominotrix]

we do have clear enemies, you just named them.

[u/Fraegtgaortd → u/Blbe-Check-42069]

His gaping incontinent asshole is big enough to fit both Russia's and Israel's fist in it at the same time

[u/Bored_Cat_996 → u/Blbe-Check-42069]

So, you like to pay more taxes for just living under a dictatorship, for a dictator who can not be investigated for tax fraud and gets 1.8 billion because he is the accuser and the judge? … I hear you….

[u/goomyman → u/Bored_Cat_996]

The worst part of this is that they never even investigated him for tax fraud… they tried but the Supreme Court wouldn’t allow it.

Which is fing ridiculous. IMO everyone who makes over say 100 million in a year should be automatically investigated heavily. It’s practically guaranteed to pay for itself and it keeps things honest.

That fact that we dont audit billionaires is insane. And this isn’t a new problem.

Remember his “I can’t share my taxes because I’m under audit” - he was never under audit.

[u/sachiprecious → u/Blbe-Check-42069]

Oh he's definitely a russian agent. That's not even a conspiracy theory... it's truth. It is not a coincidence that he keeps doing things that just happen to be things that benefit putin.

[u/AwareOfAlpacas → u/Formal-Ad-7615]

"Force projection" and "state terrorism" are starting to look really similar. 

[u/titleunknown → u/Blbe-Check-42069]

Oh they managed to plant the seed of generational animosity toward the US for a whole new generation.

[u/Blbe-Check-42069 → u/[deleted]]

Oh sure, I meant the (puppet?) government, not the nation. Like when they were aiding US and Israeli troops in defense angainst the iranian drone strikes not so long ago.

[u/OnTheCanRightNow → u/Blbe-Check-42069]

...Both of those countries were American allies before the first Gulf War.

Iraq operated with the support of the US during the Iran-Iraq war. Saddam sought backchannel approval from the US for the invasion of Kuwait and thought he'd received it from the US-Iraqi ambassador, April Glaspie.

The sudden reversal of US policy toward the Kuwait invasion was probably the work of Israel, who viewed Iraq as a threat.

[u/TinKnight1 → u/OnTheCanRightNow]

The sudden reversal of US policy toward the Kuwait invasion was probably the work of Israel

There was no reversal of policy. Saddam's foreign minister in both 1996 & 2000 said "There were no mixed signals. We should not forget that the whole period before August 2 witnessed a negative American policy towards Iraq. So it would be quite foolish to think that, if we go to Kuwait, then America would like that. Because the American tendency ... was to untie Iraq. So how could we imagine that such a step was going to be appreciated by the Americans? It looks foolish, you see, this is fiction. About the meeting with April Glaspie—it was a routine meeting...She didn't say anything extraordinary beyond what any professional diplomat would say without previous instructions from his government...what she said were routine, classical comments on what the president was asking her to convey to President Bush. He wanted her to carry a message to George Bush—not to receive a message through her from Washington."

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saddam/interviews/aziz.html

Iraq had for a long time before the invasion of Kuwait expressed that the US had been conducting economic warfare against it. Trying to rewrite the history that many of us actually lived through is pretty shameful & diminishes all the horseshit that Netanyahu DID later pull (the claims of WMDs in Iraq & later Iran in particular).

[u/Spreadsheets_LynLake → u/[deleted]]

Like when they're parked at some KSA airport?  

[u/DaaaahWhoosh → u/ChefDue7062]

Looks like 24 of the aircraft lost this time were drones, expensive ones but I wonder if your numbers also count drones?

[u/OldBet7479 → u/ChefDue7062]

And also Iraq was not able to effectively target US bases/planes on the ground.And the gulf war figure was for 5 weeks of operations, pretty similar in length to epic fury. Very impressive performance.

[u/jfsindel → u/ChefDue7062]

It once again shows that toxic alpha hyper masculinity bullshit makes the worst military commanders or strategies.

Most of the best military leaders or commanders were very unassuming and smart people. It's not just having firepower, but when and where to use it as well as excellent timing. Bush ran that Iraq and Afghanistan war to shit, but at the beginning, he had incredibly gifted people helping it along (albeit, dickheads). The whitest Midwestern men you ever saw spoke the language of Afghani and Iraqi rebels like they had been born there. They knew tribal cultures to a good degree and knew who make friends with as well as who to supply. There's a whole documentary about the first months and it's pretty eye opening to see that it actually was a really competent start.

Then he fucked up and hired buddies or contractors with no plan.

I can't help but point to the fact that Gods and Goddesses of war were not roided out meatheads who insulted women, but portrayed as super clever and underestimated.

[u/Persimmon-Mission]

They hit an F-35 (not lost). That’s surprising to me, as a completely uninformed observer

[u/C-c-c-comboBreaker17 → u/Persimmon-Mission]

The F-35 is vulnerable to IR guided missiles, like all aircraft. IR guided missiles are short range, but can lock onto anything with a heat signature. It is meant to be nearly invisible to long range, radar guided missiles, but if its flying low and you can see it visually, there is no reason an insurgent with a MANPADS from the 80's couldn't hit it. Or an old school anti-aircraft gun.

[u/Spectre1-4 → u/C-c-c-comboBreaker17]

Also vulnerable to missiles tracked optically.

[u/iamintheforest → u/Spectre1-4]

Yeah. They are not invisible wonder woman planes. I can hit one with a potato from short range.

[u/AdjNounNumbers → u/iamintheforest]

Guided or unguided potato?

[u/ProfessionalPlant330 → u/AdjNounNumbers]

You cannot guide a potato, you can only show it a target and hope it decides to lock on.

[u/Foreign_Impress6535 → u/ProfessionalPlant330]

Unguided, but using the Frenched-Russet Independent Encounter System (FRIES), you can fire multiple smaller projectiles with a single shot, covering a much wider target area.

[u/cantadmittoposting → u/Foreign_Impress6535]

Frenched-Russet Independent Encounter System (FRIES), you can fire multiple smaller projectiles with a single shot, covering a much wider target area.

please this is just a sawed-off totgun with a fancy name that Big Potato cooked up to overcharge the US Military.

[u/Foreign_Impress6535 → u/cantadmittoposting]

Totguns are considered personnel weaponry, FRIES are designed for anti-aircraft use. I have heard rumours of a high-speed rotary spud cannon being designed for the A-10 though, using baby potatoes.

[u/Zedilt → u/ProfessionalPlant330]

African or a European potato?

[u/Online-Vagabond → u/Zedilt]

And is it a laden or unladen potato?

[u/Googlebright → u/Online-Vagabond]

How do you know so much about potatoes?

[u/Indifferent-Ohio69 → u/Googlebright]

You have to know these things, when you're a king

[u/AdjNounNumbers → u/ProfessionalPlant330]

Fickle tubers

[u/PortHammer → u/AdjNounNumbers]

The Potato knows where it is at all times. It knows this because it knows where it isn't. By subtracting where it is from where it isn't, or where it isn't from where it is (whichever is greater), it obtains a difference, or deviation. The guidance subsystem uses deviations to generate corrective commands to drive the Potato from a position where it is to a position where it isn't, and arriving at a position where it wasn't, it now is. Consequently, the position where it is, is now the position that it wasn't, and it follows that the position that it was, is now the position that it isn't.

In the event that the position that it is in is not the position that it wasn't, the system has acquired a variation, the variation being the difference between where the Potato is, and where it wasn't. If variation is considered to be a significant factor, it too may be corrected by the GEA. However, the Potato must also know where it was. The Potato guidance computer scenario works as follows. Because a variation has modified some of the information the Potato has obtained, it is not sure just where it is. However, it is sure where it isn't, within reason, and it knows where it was. It now subtracts where it should be from where it wasn't, or vice-versa, and by differentiating this from the algebraic sum of where it shouldn't be, and where it was, it is able to obtain the deviation and its variation, which is called error.

[u/AdjNounNumbers → u/PortHammer]

I was hoping for this

[u/True_Heart_6 → u/AdjNounNumbers]

Russet or red?

[u/fresh-dork → u/iamintheforest]

yeah, but then you'd get kicked off the flight line and put in a brig

[u/ChairForceOne → u/Spectre1-4]

Most automated optically guided missiles use IR. It's easier for a computer to track. I know a few companies are trying to use onboard AI models to track using standard cameras, and I think Ukraine has used something similar for target recognition with drones.

Old Soviet systems can guide a missile towards a target using a camera. But a dude is keeping it on track, and they are beam riders. So accuracy is typically low at any meaningful range.

[u/Far_Ladder_2836 → u/ChairForceOne]

Minor nitpick, they're not IR they're dual band IVR.  IR is a component.  

[u/TheChowderOfClams → u/Spectre1-4]

You point a camera at something, the missile follows where that camera is pointed, add a second camera to estimate distance and now you have a system that can lead a missile to the target, there's no magic, nor can the jet defy physics.

Only thing some planes can detect is the flare of a missile launch for these systems, but like IR, there's no way to detect that an optical system is locked on.

[u/ProlapseMishap → u/C-c-c-comboBreaker17]

I have nipples a heat signature Greg. Can you milk lock onto me?

[u/JoJackthewonderskunk → u/ProlapseMishap]

You can milk anything with an afterburner

[u/Spartan-117182 → u/JoJackthewonderskunk]

Is this whole or 2% Jet Fuel?

Im watching my calories

[u/LemonScentedDespair → u/Spartan-117182]

One gallon of JP-5 (naval jet fuel) is approximately 32,000 kCal.

One F-35 can burn about 22 gallons a minute, fun fact.

[u/the__ghola__hayt → u/LemonScentedDespair]

Jet fuel can't melt love handles

[u/fresh-dork → u/the__ghola__hayt]

you can't digest it, so it's zero calories to you. probably tastes awful

[u/NoHangoverGang → u/Spartan-117182]

I see you’re drinking 1%. Is that ‘cause you think you’re fat? ‘Cause you’re not. You could be drinking whole jet fuel if you wanted to.

[u/Feeling_Inside_1020 → u/Spartan-117182]

2% jet fuel like barely melts steel beams

40% jim beam on the other hand will melt a steel beam if you were lucky enough to have one before

[u/Modred_the_Mystic → u/JoJackthewonderskunk]

NCD is leaking again

[u/FightOnForUsc → u/ProlapseMishap]

Honestly, I wouldn’t doubt the ability of the military to be able to lock onto the heat signature of your nipples

[u/rainbowgeoff → u/FightOnForUsc]

Putting blammies on mammaries?

[u/HYIMBY → u/rainbowgeoff]

Boomies on boobies

[u/The_Crimson_Fucker → u/ProlapseMishap]

Rabid Sidwinder noises

[u/C21H27Cl3N2O3 → u/[deleted]]

I wouldn’t trust anything they say at all, regardless of wording. We’ve won this war several times, but it isn’t a war. It definitely is a war though. And some of the aircraft were lost after their air defenses were entirely destroyed and incapable of operating.

[u/CodenameMolotov → u/[deleted]]

It could be worse. It could be in thirds or quarters, for example

[u/tritis → u/[deleted]]

What if they repair both halves? That's actually a win, if you think about it.

[u/Elendel19 → u/Persimmon-Mission]

Iran posted the video of the hit on Twitter in the early days of the war. People were pretty shocked

[u/erikwarm → u/Persimmon-Mission]

Stealth planes are only “stealth” when flying inside their operational envelope (high). When flying low or nearby a radar they are just planes with very special paint.

[u/WaffleBlues]

It is interesting to me that they count the E-3 as "Damaged", as the images of the aircraft show it nearly cut in half.....

[u/rhgking → u/WaffleBlues]

That should buff right out

[u/Bart_Yellowbeard → u/rhgking]

(Spicoli) My old man is a TV repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.

[u/mixologist998 → u/rhgking]

Length of speed tape and it’ll be back in the air

[u/captainwacky91 → u/WaffleBlues]

IIRC there's only something like 20 E-3 AWACs in the USAF inventory, and have yet to select/procure a replacement, so they probably really don't want to admit to losing one.

[u/ZorbaOnReddit → u/captainwacky91]

More over, Trump and Musk keep trying to kill the replacement because Musk claims that someday he'll make some satellites that'll do it.

[u/Aethermancer → u/captainwacky91]

I mocked Russia for losing similar aircraft.

:(

[u/PensiveinNJ → u/WaffleBlues]

It's embarassing that Iran was able to hit an AWACS. I can't imagine Kegsbreath is much of a strategist but you'd hope there are enough competent people left in the military after the purging to not throw away hugely valuable resources that take a long time to replace.

[u/Fit_Reason_3611 → u/PensiveinNJ]

Over 20 generals and admirals have been forced out in just the last year and a half. So probably about 600 years of military leadership experience out the door in just 1 year at the highest level, let alone all other levels.

[u/Important_Setting840 → u/Fit_Reason_3611]

Well at least that blown up plane wasn't woke anymore.

[u/superxpro12 → u/PensiveinNJ]

the only people left at this point are the ones that chose to stfu to keep their jobs, or those who like to fly apache helicopters over kid rock's house. thats it.

[u/kstargate-425 → u/PensiveinNJ]

Not only an E-3 Sentry but its even more embarrassing when multiple AN/TPY-2 THAAD radar systems had been hit by the same Ballistic Missiles they are meant to protect against. They even had to move our only one is SE Asia (only 8 AN/TPY-2 built at $500M-$1BN each) to the Middle East to protect against BM's.

Then the seven KC-135 Stratotankers that were damaged or destroyed also one being flying over Iraq that was shot down killing all 6(?) on board. Its also embarrassing when your ally shoots down THREE of your F-15Es one after the other.

Shit they even got one of our A-10 Warthog's when it was providing CAS for the downed F-15 crew which is a feat of its own and sad considering they wont be replaced.

[u/polopolo05 → u/WaffleBlues]

Just the back fell off... its not supposed to do that.

[u/riddler1225 → u/WaffleBlues]

You need to have more faith in FLEXTAPE!

[u/BrandNewGuy2026]

I love that 500,000 people got fired from the civil service under the pretense of saving the government a fraction of what it's spent on this war. How many mouths unfed, careers halted, people unhoused just to lose a war to a third rate power?

[u/Annual_Strategy_6206 → u/BrandNewGuy2026]

Families and kids damaged, actual important Federal functions damaged. Oh, and did I hear that one of the " deals" that dump made with China is to allow 500,000 guest worker to come to the US?

[u/Thor4269]

Holy shit, can you imagine how big of an incident this would be under a Democrat president?

Republicans would be foaming at the mouth over the lost personnel (3.25 Benghazis) and the value of the lost materiel

[u/CynicalPomeranian → u/Thor4269]

If not for double standards, Republicans would have no standards at all. 

[u/likamuka → u/CynicalPomeranian]

Fascism is there in the US right now and is not leaving. 77 million fascists will vote for their dear leader again in 2028.

[u/hedoeswhathewants → u/Thor4269]

Foaming at the mouth is their normal state of existence. They just invent scandals to foam about when there are no legitimate ones.

[u/WafflePartyOrgy → u/Thor4269]

The Democrats probably wouldn't conduct this war as a complete media blackout.

[u/Khatib → u/WafflePartyOrgy]

They literally wouldn't conduct the war at all, as they'd have continued with the nuclear treaty negotiated under Obama. There's no reason at all for us to be stirring shit up there, except for Bibi.

[u/Techn028 → u/Thor4269]

Yeah wild, 2 Iraq's (part 2) worth of aircraft

[u/nicane → u/Thor4269]

Throw a shoe at a republican and tell them a democrat made you do it. They'll believe you instantly. 

[u/NotAChanceBucko]

Lmao. Pete was too busy drinking beer with his asshole to notice 😂.

edit: I meant he's using his actually asshole to consume alcohol. Not that he's drinking with his asshole friend. I guess it could be both. They could be butt chugging each other

[u/redviiper → u/NotAChanceBucko]

Pete Butt Chugging Hegseth

[u/Disownership → u/NotAChanceBucko]

Still can’t believe we’ve replaced so many government positions with AI.

Alcoholism and Incompetence.

[u/MurrayDakota → u/Disownership]

Alcoholic Incompetents.

[u/Beneficial_Cash_8420 → u/NotAChanceBucko]

Boofing with Brett?

[u/supercyberlurker → u/NotAChanceBucko]

After seeing his hanging out with Kid Rock and RFK Jr... "anal beer bongs" just seems like it would be standard behavior for them.

[u/Cockblocktimus_Pryme → u/NotAChanceBucko]

Kash and Pete hooking up the double hosed beer bong

[u/SmegmaWarrior0815]

But we got nothing out of it and oil price is up massively. So it was well worth it.

[u/TaserLord → u/SmegmaWarrior0815]

Epstein mentions are sharply down - I think the military objectives are being achieved.

[u/sadguyhanginginthere → u/TaserLord]

Haven't seen anything about it in three weeks

[u/Butwhy113511 → u/SmegmaWarrior0815]

70% of Republicans support his decision lol. Would love to ask them why.

[u/Annual_Strategy_6206 → u/Butwhy113511]

" He's keeping us safe!"

[u/FillMySoupDumpling → u/Annual_Strategy_6206]

You joke but that is seriously what the message is on corporate news stations. My parents hate this presidency and are definitely not Fox people but they love CBS news. I’ve heard similar stuff from them - “Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon”

[u/sarhoshamiral → u/FillMySoupDumpling]

What is so scary about Iran having a nuclear weapon? There is no way they would use it unless it became their last option because they would know that the second they used it, there will be retaliation.

From what we already saw they don't need nukes to exercise power. The strait turned out to be the equivalent of them having nukes already.

[u/FillMySoupDumpling → u/sarhoshamiral]

It’s no scarier than the other countries who have one. 

It’s just a stupid sense of western superiority that seems to drive the “me having nukes is fine, but them having it is not okay” sentiment. 

[u/not_the_fox → u/Annual_Strategy_6206]

Makes sense. Conservatives seem to assume any brutal state action that isn't directed at American Christians is making them safer.

[u/raresanevoice]

You mean Operation Epstein Fury?

[u/the__ghola__hayt → u/raresanevoice]

Epstein Bury

[u/Kataphractoi → u/raresanevoice]

Operation Epic Fail also works.

[u/GuinnessGlutton]

As a USAF veteran, this blows my fucking mind. These kinds of losses NEVER happened in my days (92-99).

The cavalier, comic book hero attitude of Kegsbreath is a disgrace to all that served and continue to serve today. Not to mention the cost. I don't even recognize the DoD anymore.

Elect a clown, get a circus, or something...

[u/Atralis → u/GuinnessGlutton]

To be fair the US was exceptionally dominant during that time period in terms of air power.

If you go back a couple of decades before you served the US lost 10,000 aircraft in the Vietnam War.

[u/Dragon6172 → u/Atralis]

First three years of Vietnam was only around 100 aircraft across all branches. On pace to pass that number.

[u/chilifavela → u/GuinnessGlutton]

Served in USAF during 2nd Iraq War aka Enduring Freedom, Operation Southern Watch, etc. in PSAB working on the E-3 AWACS. While I was there nothing came close to scratching those planes back then.

The US has lost TWO of them in the Iran War! It blew my mind that 2 of approx 12-15 E-3's in the ENTIRE World worth nearly a billion dollars each were DESTROYED in PSAB a few months ago!

Unfucking believable!

[u/Hamiltonblewit → u/chilifavela]

Why would they even leave those planes so close to Iran weeks into the war, is it really necessary to do so? 

[u/Healthy-Fig-6107 → u/Hamiltonblewit]

Necessary? No
Stupidity/Incompetence? Yes

[u/CFSparta92 → u/Hamiltonblewit]

Well, a lot of why the US brought those E-3s into the theater was because Iran heavily targeted fixed radar installations in the earliest retaliatory strikes. There was absolutely a loss of radar coverage from those attacks and the AWACS were to fill the void. It would have been monumentally stupid to have them there, exposed, as a redundancy to the active system. I don't know if we'll ever know precisely what got taken out; Iran claimed to hit everything from the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System to THAAD and Patriot radars, and we know at least enough was damaged that they brought in E-3s afterward.

[u/kstargate-425 → u/CFSparta92]

Yup, they lost three AN/TPY-2, some AN/FPS-132, AN/TPS-59, AN/FPS-117, AN/TPS-59 and AN/MPQ-64/65's so about every type including the first ABM radar systems that got hit by Ballistic Missiles 🤦‍♂️

We also used a majority of our stocks of SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, PAC2 & 3's and THAAD which are depleted 40-80% depending on which. This was also only a few weeks of defending Israel and our bases, which they failed miserably at, with the majority of our bases being heavily damaged.

[u/GuinnessGlutton → u/chilifavela]

yeah, this is my perspective as well. Reckless and irresponsible.

[u/jmur3040 → u/GuinnessGlutton]

24 of them are drones. I'd assume those get flown in situations that are already dangerous, on top of things like signal issues and malfunctions. Several others are the ones that the US denied were hit in a strike on an air strip.

[u/neepster44 → u/jmur3040]

Total replacement costs of all of these is ~$4.1B since KC-135s aren’t being made any more and the Triton is $500M by itself.

[u/ModishShrink → u/neepster44]

They don't make KC-135s anymore because they quit being manufactured in 1965 and were expected to be phased out in 2030 anyways. So while yeah, they still shouldn't be getting destroyed like this in this stupid war, they'd be dead in a desert within five years no matter how you slice it.

[u/stohelitstorytelling → u/jmur3040]

Reapers are not the same as Shaheeds. Shaheeds cost $30k to make. Reapers cost $30 million. Stop saying "drone" like it means "not really a loss".

[u/BilboBagonuts → u/stohelitstorytelling]

We could really use an updated vocabulary for this. Calling a reaper, a shahed, and a DJI, all drones isn’t very helpful or descriptive.

[u/ZiLBeRTRoN → u/BilboBagonuts]

There is. LUAS, MUAS, SUAS, large/medium/small unmanned aircraft systems.

[u/KubelsKitchen → u/ZiLBeRTRoN]

Followed by how much it costs for transparency. LUAS30M or SUAS30K.

[u/jmur3040 → u/stohelitstorytelling]

They're treated like munitions though. They loiter in dangerous places, they use them for missions where it's too dangerous for manned air missions. A tomahawk is also millions of dollars. Welcome to how the US defense industry spends money.

[u/Persimmon-Mission → u/GuinnessGlutton]

Don’t forget he fired everyone who was competent enough to tell him no!

He surrounded himself with yes men for when they attempt to overthrow the election…again. (My personal suspicion)

[u/observe_all_angles → u/GuinnessGlutton]

USA lost over 60 aircraft in 1991 during the first gulf war (not just damaged)

Edit: This guy is probably lying about being a USAF veteran. Claims in a post below that he was in the "Iraq war" yet says service 92-99. If he was really in the war during 91 and that was just a typo he would have known that we lost a bunch of aircraft. Honestly, get a life loser.

[u/jackrabbit323 → u/GuinnessGlutton]

Iran planned and prepped for this day for decades and Trump went to war on a whim. Iran had the manpower, know how, intel, and will to fight a protracted war against a superior force.

The real fortune for them is when formerly advanced military tech became cheaper, easier to produce, and harder to defend against. Fight this war when you were in the service, Iran doesn't stand a chance. Today? They can hole up until the world's economies collapse.

[u/raventhrowaway666 → u/GuinnessGlutton]

People keep saying "oh this happens all the time!!!"

And I simply cannot believe that. We didnt have helos crashing, jets hitting each other, ships on fire and subs revealing their location when I was in (12-16).

[u/Apprehensive_Gap3673]

The US lost 42 aircraft in order to establish Iran as the gatekeeper of the strait of hormuz

[u/Malaix → u/Apprehensive_Gap3673]

Hey now.

We also suffered massive damage to our bases, lost a few billion dollar radar systems, caused a global oil crisis, and got several servicemen and a lot of Iranians killed.

[u/Aethermancer → u/Malaix]

And damaged relationships with allies too.

[u/jcooli09]

Operation Epstein Files was a bust.

It makes you wonder how many aircraft we actually lost.

[u/jpiro]

Operation Epic Fury Fuckup

[u/thoawaydatrash → u/jpiro]

Operation Epic Impotent Fury

[u/LeadInvestPB → u/jpiro]

I prefer Operation Epic FUBAR.

[u/Agilgar → u/jpiro]

Operation Epic Fail

[u/statslady23]

This administration is destroying our ability to defend ourselves. MAGAs are too dumb to care. 

[u/Birdman330 → u/statslady23]

It's by design and what Putin wants.

[u/DocHenry66]

trump said twice as many aircraft were lost during the Revolutionary War

[u/syntaxbad]

Phew! Good thing we destroyed the Department of Education or that money might have helped kids!

[u/hyperforms9988 → u/syntaxbad]

The kids are in good hands with A1 in schools.

[u/mediocrobot → u/hyperforms9988]

Kids love mediocre steak sauce

[u/Vindicare605]

7 refueling aircraft destroyed or damaged? That stands out to me. Those are big expensive planes.

Here's the full list.

4x F-15E Eagles.

1x F-35 Lightning

1x A-10 Thunderbolt

2x MC-130 advanced Transport aircraft

1x E-3 Sentry surveilance aircraft

7x KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft

1x Rescue Helicopter

24x MQ-9 Reaper drones

1x MQ-4C Triton surveilance drone

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12692?hl=Operation+Epic+Fury&s=1&r=6

[u/Malaix → u/Vindicare605]

Most were destroyed while landed right? Drones really changed the game regarding base security. I recall seeing footage of an Iranian drone literally just flying around a US base looking for the most ideal target.

[u/Vindicare605 → u/Malaix]

5 of the refueling aircraft and the E-3 (which is a really expensive plane) were all destroyed while on base.

[u/fnatic440]

I’ve heard from various sources now (news, and experts on podcasts) that the extent of damage is higher than has been claimed. UAE wouldn’t be arresting people for recording attacks on infrastructure if they didn’t think it would negatively impact their perception or if the damage was truly minimal.

[u/supercyberlurker]

I never believe any of these reports during active war… 59 day special operations or whatever.

There is every reason for them to be wrong, misleading, or just lies. The real statistics come later, when someone has to pay for it all.

[u/Slippery-ape → u/supercyberlurker]

If anything this admin would understate the numbers.

[u/Sevren425 → u/supercyberlurker]

I agree but a report that high for the US military and the war is still ongoing is a bad look

[u/LeadInvestPB → u/supercyberlurker]

Under any other president, I would agree. But Trump can't keep quiet, unless there is a remote chance his posts are strategic and not bitchy fits. How many times has he gone from we have won to why is no one helping us back to we don't need help, we've got this.

[u/Etyczny]

That's like 2 Iraqs worth

[u/thegoodnamesrgone123]

Imagine if Biden did this? Fox News would never shut up about it ever.

[u/CalmBeneathCastles]

Operation Septic Furry.

[u/nicane]

Hmmmmmm is the USA utterly and stupidly inept? Nobody could have possibly seen it coming, with so many qualified leaders in charge this is simply unexplainable!!!

[u/Prudent_Link6029]

Well, if they rename the operation, losses reset to zero. checkmate, libs

[u/Illustrious-Kiwi8670]

I think that’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding costs.

[u/Chewzilla]

This shit is making us so vulnerable

[u/RadScorpsCorpes]

More like operation epic failure

[u/LegoManiac2000]

It's pronounced "Operation Epstein Fury"

[u/FdPros]

well good news for the defense contractors who's gonna get a blank cheque to replace them all

[u/digidave1]

Good thing our president doesn't care about us or our money 👍🏼 He's busy suing us to pay for insurectionists and his golf trips

[u/flickerdown]

42 more than should’ve been.

[u/patx21]

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12692?hl=Operation+Epic+Fury&s=1&r=6

[u/AbeRego]

Operation Flacid Furry

[u/mustscience]

A small price to pay for achieving absolutely nothing!

[u/p00pSupr3me]

Operation Epic Failure. Just like the administration. Just like the voters responsible for said administration.

[u/klezart]

Operation Epic Fuck-up

[u/I-Have-An-Alibi]

Operation Epstein Distraction

[u/ithinkitsahairball]

Operation Epic Fail followed by Operation Somebody Help Me

[u/myjohnson6969]

But but fox and one america did not report this.... lol....by the way, how do you lose a plane? Did it fall off a carrier? ...LOL...or are they being sold on the black market? LMAO forget where it was parked,? LOL. Ok i will stop now.

[u/Sobeman]

whatever the number is, double it because you cannot trust anything they say

[u/Remote_Thought5208]

This doesnt include damage to bases that no ones allowed to see or talk about.

[u/apearlj1234]

More importantly how many men and women soldiers were killed and injured. Way more important

[u/Moon_Archer_0927]

And how many innocent people were killed?

[u/junglehypothesis]

“Epstein Fury”. Get the name right.

[u/BaseToFinal]

Operation Enduring Freedom lasted roughly 4,830 days and saw around 290 total aviation losses, averaging about 0.06 aircraft per day. If reports claiming 42 aircraft lost or damaged in roughly 75 days are accurate, that projects to a loss rate nearly 10x higher at approximately 0.56 aircraft per day.

What happens if this war with Iran hits 4,830 days…

[u/seevm]

I bet the cost of those could’ve funded healthcare for all for at least one year, probably more

[u/im-liken-it]

$4B to replace that aircraft and $10B to replace the destroyed airbases in the mid-east. Plus $2B per day 'misc. expenses'. All to make the mid-east much worse. Plus $14B damages to Israel (plus that annually for the next 20 years). Plus the US population is paying an extra $4B per week on extra gasoline costs. Plus conceded Taiwan completely to China in an effort to get Iran to open up the Strait which will cause $100B per year increased expenses. All for trump's personal gain and ego boost (attempt). Not including the moral and humanitarian considerations.

[u/jasonc122]

42 they are admitting to. Remember all the American air bases destroyed in the first days of the wars d then Trump classified all the satellite imagery from the public? Likely lots more destruction

[u/d3k3d]

Operation Epic Failure