“SAFE AND SOUND.” These are the words Donald Trump used to announce on Sunday morning that the American aviator from the F-15E fighter bomber, who was ejected in flight before the aircraft crashed in southwest Iran on Friday, had been saved.
On his Truth Social network, the President of the United States – who clarified in another post that the pilot was “seriously injured” – described “one of the most audacious search and rescue operations in history.” He also mentioned “a type of raid rarely attempted because of the danger it poses to personnel and equipment.”
And with good reason, the material losses are significant for Washington – in a war that could cost up to 2 billion dollars per day, according to American media, reports Tehran. Responding to the United States, who presented the rescue mission as a success, the Iranian army claimed to have “completely foiled” the operation.
And in a video broadcast by state television, the spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, goes even further by asserting that four U.S. military aircraft were “destroyed.” Washington has not yet confirmed this information, but if it were the case, it would increase the cost of the military operation.
Initially, the Iranian army reported three American aircraft struck in southern Isfahan, before announcing four. “Two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters from the American army were destroyed,” said Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Iranian interarm military command Khatam Al-Anbiya.
If these losses were confirmed by Washington, the bill would be hefty. According to an official U.S. government website, the cost of a C-130 ranges from 30 to 75 million dollars, depending on the model.
“A C-130H costs 30.1 million dollars, a C-130J: 75.5 million dollars (in constant 2017 dollars),” the Air Mobility Command website says.
As for the two Black Hawk helicopters, their prices range from 20 to 30 million dollars, depending on the type of aircraft. However, it was not specified which model the Iranians had shot down.
On Friday, Tehran and American media had reported that an F-15E Strike fighter bomber had been shot down. According to the Wall Street Journal, this aircraft costs between 31.1 and 100 million dollars for the most recent models.
The Iranian army also claimed to have hit another American aircraft, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, which then crashed into the Gulf. This aircraft, nicknamed Warthog, cost 9.8 million constant dollars in 1998, according to its technical sheet.
But these losses would only be minor in the world’s largest defense budget. Engaged in a costly war against Iran, the White House requested last Friday that Congress increase defense spending by 42% in one year to colossal levels. This project would see American military spending soar to 1.5 trillion dollars next year, according to documents released by the executive.
