As the U.S. military continues its high-intensity air strikes against Iran, the losses of aircraft and drones are also increasing. Since the outbreak of the war, at least 16 U.S. military aircraft have been destroyed, including 10 "Reaper" attack drones. Another approximately six planes have been seriously damaged in attacks or accidents. The most severe losses came from accidents, including three F-15s shot down by friendly fire in Kuwait, and a KC-135 aerial refueling tanker that crashed during a refueling operation, with all six crew members on board killed. Additionally, five KC-135s stationed at a Saudi airport were reported to have been damaged in an Iranian missile attack. So far, the main targets shot down by Iran's air defense system have been drones, with at least nine "Reapers" shot down in the air, and one hit by a ballistic missile at an airport in Jordan. Compared to the U.S. involvement in Libya in 2011, which reported only three combat losses over four months, the U.S. military's losses in this war are significantly higher. Analysts believe that this first reflects the fact that the number of sorties and the frequency of strikes far exceed previous large-scale air operations, and also indicates that although the U.S. and Israel have listed Iran's air defense system as a key target in the first wave, they have not yet been able to completely suppress its air defense capabilities and truly establish a stable air superiority.
Image source: Internet
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860160482761930/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.