Did Iran Actually Shoot Down Three Israeli F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets? Here's What IDF Said

News18

16-06-2025

Last Updated:
Iranian state media have claimed that its air defences have shot down three Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jets in the last 48 hours, and captured a female Israeli pilot.
Iranian state media have claimed that its air defences have shot down three Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jets in the last 48 hours, as the deadly conflict between Israel and Iran continued for a third day.
According to IRNA news agency, a third F-35 jet was shot down by Iran's air defences on Saturday, and the pilot was captured by army commandos. On Friday, Tasnim news agency reported that the army shot down two Israeli fighter jets involved in airstrikes on Iranian territory, and also took an Israeli woman pilot into custody.
Iran's Army Public Relations Office also claimed that the country's air defence units had successfully targeted and destroyed two Israeli fighter jets, along with multiple drones. An investigation was underway to determine the fate of the pilots.
If the news is true, it would be a major loss for Israel and the US, as the F-35 stealth jet is considered one of the most advanced combat aircraft, and it would make Iran the first country to shoot down an F-35 in combat.
IDF Responds To Iran's Claims
While Iranian media said it had shot down F-25 fighter jets, the claim was swiftly rejected by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), who described them as 'fabricated". IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee dismissed the reports as baseless, stating, 'Iranian media is spreading lies. The entire report is fabricated."
Iran has also not provided any visual proof that it had taken down the F-35 fighter jets, and so their claims are yet to be authenticated with conflicting narratives emerging from both sides. International observers and military bloggers also raised doubts on the veracity of purported images of the wreckage.
The F-35, developed by the United States and used by Israel, is considered one of the most advanced aircraft in the world, with capabilities of stealth, sensor fusion and electronic warfare.
The F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Fighter, produced by Lockheed Martin, has three variants: The Air Force's F-35A, which is the most produced and most sold to allies; the Marine Corps F-35B, which has the ability to take off and land vertically, and hover like a helicopter; and the Navy's F-35C, which can land on a carrier.
The jet has several unique features like its 'advanced stealth" enables it to avoid radar, and the sensors, communications and avionics allow it to track the enemy, jam radars and thwart attacks. It is extensively used in Israeli operations to carry out precision strikes in hostile environments. It is also capable of flying long distances without refuelling due to additional fuel tanks.
To shoot down an F-35 fighter jet would mean that Iran has an extraordinary air defence capability. The sole confirmed case of a stealth aircraft being shot down occurred in 1999, when a US F-117 Nighthawk was brought down during NATO's military campaign in Yugoslavia.
First Published:
June 15, 2025, 22:22 IST