A United States F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a Middle Eastern airbase last week amid the escalating US-Israeli war on Iran. Two sources and Iranian state media claim the jet was struck by Iran after a combat mission. If verified, this would mark the first time an F-35, a cornerstone of Washington’s aerial firepower, has been hit during the conflict.
Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), stated the aircraft landed safely and the pilot was in stable condition. He added that the incident is under investigation, without specifying the cause or location. The same day, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement claiming it targeted a US aircraft. According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, the pilot suffered shrapnel wounds, and the jet was hit by ground fire.
The F-35 is a family of stealth strike fighters manufactured by Lockheed Martin, billed as “the most advanced fighter jet in the world.” Its reputation stems from stealth technology, advanced sensors, and high-speed computing. British safety adviser John Phillips highlighted the importance of radar suites and rumors that certain countries receive limited radar systems to prevent reverse engineering by adversaries like China or Russia.
There are three F-35 variants: F-35A (most common), F-35B (vertical landing capable), and F-35C (supersonic). It is unclear which model was allegedly hit. US officials have not confirmed the strike, with President Donald Trump purportedly stating, “We’re flying wherever we want. Nobody is even shooting at us.” If Iran’s claims are true, this would demonstrate the F-35’s vulnerability in war.
Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, noted this would be significant as it shows the F-35 is not invulnerable in a dense air-defense environment. Since the war began, the US regime has reportedly lost 12 MQ-9 Reaper drones and sustained damage to other aircraft. Iran claims at least 1,444 people have been killed in the conflict.
Source: www.aljazeera.com