Iran war: 81 US aircraft down, billions needed for replacement, and Congress is flying blind

Washington, Oct 8 (UNI) The Iran war has cost the US military 81 aircraft, lost or damaged, and the bill to replace them could reach $3.3 billion, according to a Congressional Research Service report. That is only the equipment. The war itself has cost Americans at least $45 billion, and that figure leaves out damage to U.S. bases across the region. Among the casualties are an F-35A stealth fighter and an E-3 Sentry, while the MQ-9 Reaper suffered particularly heavy losses. The airborne command-and-control aircraft the military relies on to track targets and manage airspace. Both are scarce, aging or…