Has the stealthy F-35 met its match? Iran claims capture of Israeli pilots amid reports of third jet shoot-down

Economic Times

11 hours ago

Iranian state media claim that Iranian air defences have successfully intercepted and downed three Israeli F-35I Adir stealth jets in the past 48 hours, including one in which a female pilot was allegedly captured after ejecting. The reports come on the heels of Israel's Operation Rising Lion, a multi-pronged air campaign involving F-35s, F-15s, and F-16s targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites. While no independent confirmation has surfaced, Iran's narrative continues to gain traction on state channels, even as Israeli authorities and global defence analysts strongly deny the claims.According to semi-official outlets IRNA and Press TV, Iranian air defences brought down a third Israeli F-35 stealth fighter in the early hours of Saturday. One pilot is reported to have died; another has allegedly been captured alive after ejecting. Iran has not released any visual proof, and military bloggers have questioned the authenticity of circulating images that purport to show the wreckage. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have dismissed the entire narrative as 'fabricated.'
Colonel Avichay Adraee, IDF's Arabic-language spokesperson, said, 'This news being spread by Iranian media is completely baseless.'The F-35I Adir is Israel's customised variant of the US-made Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II—a fifth-generation multirole fighter jet developed under the Joint Strike Fighter programme. Designed for stealth, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare, the F-35 is considered one of the most advanced aircraft in the world.Israel's version integrates domestically developed modifications in five critical domains: command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I), as well as electronic warfare and weapons systems. These modifications allow the aircraft to carry out precision strikes in hostile environments and network seamlessly with IAF's legacy fighters.
Capable of flying long distances without refuelling due to added external fuel tanks, the F-35I has demonstrated this in past operations, including a 1,700-kilometre round trip to Yemen. The aircraft costs approximately US$100 million per unit and is equipped with features like a radar cross-section of just 0.0015 square metres—roughly the size of a golf ball—making it nearly undetectable on conventional radar.While the F-35 is marketed for its low observability and electronic warfare dominance, the idea that it is untouchable is not without precedent. The only confirmed instance of a stealth aircraft being shot down remains the 1999 downing of a US F-117 Nighthawk during NATO's campaign in Yugoslavia. Using a Soviet-era S-125 missile system, Yugoslav forces managed to track and hit the jet despite its stealth profile.In more recent years, a near-miss involving a Houthi-fired missile and a US-operated F-35 during operations over Yemen also sparked debate about the limits of stealth. Even the most advanced aircraft may be vulnerable to increasingly networked, radar-guided missile systems that exploit predictable flight paths or operate using unconventional detection methods.While Iran's semi-official news outlets, including Tasnim and IRNA, stated that the F-35 jets were neutralised and one female pilot captured after she ejected into western Iran, the global defence community remains unconvinced.Israel has categorically denied the reports.'This news being spread by Iranian media is completely baseless,' said Col. Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). 'Fake Iranian media.'Despite the gravity of Iran's assertion, no visual confirmation has been released. Iranian media have not published footage of the pilot or the wreckage. Meanwhile, a widely shared image of the alleged F-35 remains unverified, with military analysts suggesting it may be AI-generated.International news networks such as Sky News Arabia and Al Jazeera have also been unable to confirm Iran's claims. No satellite imagery or third-party monitoring group has supported Tehran's version of events.ET has not been able to independently verify these claims. On June 13, Israel reportedly launched Operation Rising Lion, involving F-35I Adirs, F-15s, and F-16s in a coordinated assault on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, including the Natanz enrichment complex. According to defence reports, the operation involved the use of missiles, drones, and sabotage operatives within Iran to neutralise radar sites and air defences ahead of the main strike.
Following the attacks, Iran claimed at least 78 fatalities, including key members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and over 300 injuries. Tehran's retaliation has included ballistic missile launches and drone strikes, with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowing to 'bring ruin to the Zionist regime.' The possible loss of F-35I jets would be a significant setback for both the Israeli Air Force and Lockheed Martin. The aircraft's reputation as a near-invincible platform has been central to US and Israeli deterrence strategies in the region.
Israel was the first country to use the F-35 in combat in 2018. The stealth jet has flown high-risk missions before—including a 1,700-kilometre strike against Houthi forces in Yemen last year—often without needing mid-air refuelling thanks to additional modifications. Some analysts believe Tehran's announcement may be aimed at domestic audiences, intended to showcase strength and resilience after a high-profile attack on its soil.With mourning ceremonies now underway in Iran for the 78 reported victims of Israel's Operation Rising Lion, the narrative of shooting down Israeli jets and capturing a pilot could serve to reinforce unity and defiance.In contrast, Israel has continued its operations without indicating any loss of its aircraft fleet. The IDF maintains that all jets involved in the mission returned safely, and no pilot is missing.'Part of a disinformation campaign designed to save face after the heavy losses Iran suffered,' said the IDF spokesperson.If Iran's claim holds up, it would not only dent Israeli confidence but could trigger a deeper revaluation of stealth doctrine across global militaries.Without visual or technical evidence, Iran's claims remain unverified. No foreign media, international watchdogs, or satellite imagery have supported Iran's version of events. Yet Tehran insists that its forces have not only repelled Israeli attacks but scored a world-first: the downing of multiple fifth-generation fighters in a single operation.Should Iran's claims eventually be proven, it would not only mark the first combat loss of an F-35 worldwide but also deal a severe blow to Lockheed Martin and Israel's defence reputation. Until then, what remains clear is that both sides are now engaged not just in combat but in a high-stakes battle for narrative dominance.While both sides continue to trade accusations, missiles, and counterclaims, the real-world impact of the current exchange is already visible. Israeli air raid sirens continue to wail. Civilians remain in bomb shelters. Iranian state media is filled with triumphant coverage.The true test will come in the hours and days ahead—if independent confirmation emerges of the downed jets, and if the war spirals into further, deadlier escalation.For now, one thing is clear: the myth of the invincible stealth fighter is under the harsh spotlight of war.