US Media: Since US-Iran Conflict, At Least 16 US Military Aircraft Destroyed, 800 Interceptor Missiles Fired in One Week

Question: How does the high cost of launching 800 missiles over a week during the US-Iran conflict affect US military strategy?

According to Global Times, on the 19th, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that its air defense system shot down a US F-35 stealth fighter jet, causing serious damage. On the 20th, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani stated that the F-35, as a symbol of US arrogance, was “shot down for the first time in the world.” As the expensive F-35 aircraft was “severely damaged,” the White House was seeking an additional $200 billion in funding for military actions against Iran. The high costs of this war have once again become a focus of public debate.

F-35 fighter jet (photo)

“During intense airstrikes, the number of damaged US aircraft continues to increase,” Bloomberg reported on the 19th. Since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict, at least 16 US military aircraft have been destroyed, including 10 “Reaper” drones hit by enemy fire and six aircraft severely damaged in attacks or accidents. Qatar’s Al Jazeera also reported that the US has lost about 12 MQ-9 “Reaper” drones. Bloomberg noted that although Iran’s air defense system was one of the primary targets of US and Israeli airstrikes, completely destroying them and gaining air superiority still seems difficult at this stage.

As the F-35 experienced an “emergency landing,” the White House was seeking an additional $200 billion for military operations against Iran. BBC reported that Trump stated on the 19th that this money would be used to replenish munitions and supplies depleted by the conflict and previous aid to other countries.

A Bloomberg article on the 20th detailed the high costs faced by the current US government, which has been focused on reducing expenses. For example, a complete Patriot missile defense system costs about $1 billion, and “that’s just the beginning,” with long-term costs including the interceptors, each costing $4 million. A US official told The New York Times that approximately 800 interceptors had been launched in the first week of the war, highlighting the scale of the conflict. In comparison, Ukraine received about 600 Patriot missiles during four years of conflict with Russia.

BBC noted that the $200 billion funding request will trigger a fierce legislative battle in Congress. While Republicans are expected to have enough votes to pass the funding, ongoing war and economic chaos could impose “heavy political costs.” CNN said that passing this funding in Congress would be “extremely difficult,” and some Republican lawmakers are skeptical about spending billions of dollars to prolong the conflict.

Editor: Lin Xihe

Intern Editor: Deng Hengjia

[Source: Global Times]

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