CNN: An F-35 fighter jet is hit by an Iranian missile during a combat flight
Tehran claims to have shot down an American fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet: according to the IRGC, the aircraft "was seriously damaged." According to the Iranian State Television and Radio station, the defeat of the aircraft is of strategic value "comparable to the destruction of a warship." The US Army Central Command confirmed the incident, but said that the F-35 "landed safely" at one of the air bases. The details are in the material of "Gazeta.Ru».
An F-35 fighter jet of the US Air Force carrying out a combat mission made an emergency landing at one of the Middle Eastern air bases after being damaged in the air, CNN reports. It is assumed that he was hit by an Iranian missile.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran distributed a video of the strike on its Telegram channel. It is claimed that the plane was attacked by air defense forces in the center of Iran at 2:50 a.m. today. The footage shows the recognizable silhouette of an F-35 followed by a rocket approach and explosion.
The Central Command of the US Armed Forces (CENTCOM) confirmed the incident, but stated that the consequences were not so serious.
"The plane landed safely, the pilot is in stable condition. The incident is under investigation," said CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins.
The Military Review publication recalls that Iran is armed with its own anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as Russian-made and Chinese-made air defense systems. It is unknown which of them was involved in the attack.
Earlier, the American edition of Military Watch Magazine reported that the Resonance-NE long-range radar system purchased by Iran from Russia in 2019 makes it possible to notify air defense of the approach of targets with a low effective scattering surface, such as the F-35. This allows ground-based systems to focus sensors on the area of the approaching aircraft for further impact on it.
According to CNN, if information about a missile hitting the F-35 is confirmed, this will be the first time Iran has shot down an American aircraft during the war that began in late February. The publication notes that F-35 fighters are used in the conflict by both the United States and Israel.
In turn, the Telegram channel of the Iranian State television channel ParsToday Russian reported that "the defeat of the F-35 is comparable in its strategic value to the destruction of an American warship." After that, allegedly, the shares of Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, went down sharply.
"We fly wherever we want"
Eurasia Daily notes that almost simultaneously with the publication of information about the defeat of the F-35, US President Donald Trump announced full control of the skies over Iran by the US Air Force. The statement was made at a joint briefing with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House.
At the same briefing, Trump made another loud statement, actually comparing his attack on Iran in 2026 with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 (after that, the United States entered World War II. — "Newspaper.Ru»).
"There are things that are not talked about in advance. We acted harshly and did not warn anyone — we needed a surprise. Who knows better than Japan what it is? Why didn't you warn me about Pearl Harbor?" said the US president.
According to the British edition of The Guardian, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi "was clearly stunned: she opened her eyes wide, took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair, but generally maintained her composure."
What is known about the F-35
The F-35 is a fifth—generation multi-role stealth fighter developed by the American military industrial corporation Lockheed Martin. It is designed using complex composite materials and radio-absorbing coatings to ensure low visibility by air defense systems. Serial production began in 2011 as part of the JSF interstate program, which is funded by Australia, Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway and the United States.
The aircraft is a single-engine supersonic all-weather fighter-bomber designed for a crew of one person. The existing system of infrared sensors should detect missile launches at a distance of 1300 kilometers. The pilot's helmet uses augmented reality technology. The standard set of weapons includes two guided air-to-air missiles and two guided bombs. The cost of one F-35 fighter exceeds $100 million.
Alexander Kondratiev
