F-35I Strikes Down Iranian Fighter Jet in Flight
For five straight days, the Israeli Air Force has been striking in Iran without pause. Now, it marks another milestone in the operation: an Iranian fighter jet was shot down by an F-35I. New details are being released about the swift aerial encounter that set a precedent.
05.03.26
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As part of the ongoing Israeli Air Force activity over Iranian skies, an additional and historic operational achievement was recorded this morning: an Israeli Air Force “Adir” (F-35I) shot down an Iranian fighter jet (YAK-130) in an aerial engagement.
“We launched this operation after thorough preparations, dedicated drills and a deep understanding of what awaited us,” says Brig. Gen. D., the Commander of Nevatim Airbase, from which the pilot took off for the mission. “All teams—from headquarters, to the technical crews, to the pilot at the tip—work together in full synergy. Without that cooperation, an event like this could not have happened.”
Roughly 1,500 kilometers from Israel, after a long flight lasting several hours, the hostile aircraft was identified. “Although this aircraft was used for training by the Iranian Air Force,” the base commander explains, “even a jet like that, outdated as it may be, can still cause serious damage.”
While multiple Israeli jets were in position, the F-35I was selected to engage the enemy aircraft, thanks to its advanced systems and superior performance. “It has especially advanced sensors that can lock onto a target quickly and precisely, and it is equipped with long-range missiles that our pilots are highly trained to use, making it well suited for this type of mission.”
In reality, the operation itself did not last long. “We locked onto him, got on his tail—and fired. This was not a complicated air battle, not a dogfight or close aerial clash. It was a rapid response, one that ended with history being made in the skies over Iran.”
What about the pilot himself? Although labeled a “young” pilot, he has already spent considerable time in the air. “His professional training equipped him with the skills he used today, achieving a very high level of precision in a relatively short time,” the commander notes. “Even during the current campaign against Iran, he has already played a meaningful role.”
So while it may not have been the first time he saw Tehran from above, it will certainly be the one he remembers most.
