The Iran War has cost Americans more than $170 billion, including hundreds of millions in military hardware accidentally destroyed by allies or intentionally blown up by the United States. Meanwhile, the expenses continue mounting as this report is being written.
A new report by the Lead Inspector General’s office states that 81 aircraft have been destroyed or damaged, amounting to $3.3 billion in costs—a fraction of the overall $43 billion—and counting—sticker price for the conflict. The largest expense includes added fuel costs for Americans back home, reaching billions of dollars.
The Lead Inspector General breaks down the equipment report by aircraft. In March, three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were destroyed over Kuwait after Kuwaiti air defenses (allegedly) mistakenly shot them down. No American aircrew members died, and the Kuwaitis admitted to accidentally firing at them, according to a Centcom report. Adjusted for inflation, an F-15E costs between $60 million and $65 million. The United States lost another one of these jets when it was shot down over Iran.
The military also had to blow up two Special Operations aircraft during a rescue mission. The military uses MC-130J planes in covert operations to extract troops from behind enemy lines. An official with knowledge of the mission stated that it became necessary to destroy the aircraft. The MC-130 costs a little more than $110 million apiece.
Six Americans died in a somewhat mysterious incident involving refueling aircraft. The event was not the result of hostile or friendly fire, according to Centcom, which reported that two aircraft were involved with one crashing in Iraq. The short report does not specify what happened. In a separate incident, Iran damaged five KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
The military also lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, or about 25 percent of its fleet. The MQ-9 costs $56 million a piece. That puts the taxpayer loss at more than $2.5 billion just in Reapers. The military uses the Reaper around the Strait of Hormuz, the shipping corridor that has given the Iranians significant leverage.
Speaking of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranians managed to shoot down an Apache helicopter there, which costs about $18 million—nowhere near what the Iranians spent to destroy it.
Pentagon officials told Congress that the conflict has cost $43.6 billion as of September. The figure comprises $11.2 billion already obligated for operating expenses—including fuel, combat pay, aircraft, medical care, parts and the like—and $32.4 billion in unfunded replacement costs for munitions, damaged aircraft and other assets.
A Brown University analysis states that the conflict has cost civilians, regular Americans back at home, an additional $128 billion just in extra gasoline and diesel costs. The national average price for a gallon of gas pre-conflict was $2.98. That cost is now $4.36—a 46-percent increase. Diesel drivers are particularly affected; diesel prices rose from $3.60 to $6.30, a 72 percent increase.
All this adds up to more than $171 billion, a conservative estimate that does not account for expenses accrued after the reports were compiled and additional costs for American consumers in food and other necessities due to fuel spikes.