The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced today that an F-35I fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 combat aircraft over Tehran. This marks the first time an F-35 aircraft has downed a manned fighter jet anywhere in the world. The incident occurred during the IDF's tenth wave of attacks targeting Iran's capital.
Iranian officials have not commented on the report.
According to the Times of Israel, this also marks the first time Israeli aircraft have engaged in air-to-air combat with a manned aircraft in the past 40 years. The last time an Israeli fighter jet shot down such a target was in November 1985 in Lebanon, when an F-15 fighter downed two Syrian MiG-23s.
 |
An Israeli F-35 fighter jet en route to strike Iran in a photo posted on 3/3. Photo: IDF |
Israel is the second country to receive F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, after the United States, and is one of the few nations permitted to modify this advanced aircraft model. Tel Aviv currently has 48 aircraft in its inventory. The F-35I Adir is a variant developed specifically for the Israeli air force, based on the F-35A variant, integrating numerous indigenous technologies to counter threats from Iran.
The Yak-130 is originally a jet trainer aircraft, but it can also be used as a light attack aircraft. The aircraft has an empty weight of 4,6 tons, but can carry 3 tons of various weapons on 6 hardpoints and 1,7 tons of fuel.
Iran reportedly began receiving Yak-130 aircraft from Russia in 2023, with a total of 12 aircraft ordered.
 |
An Iranian Yak-130 trainer aircraft in an image released in September 2023. Photo: Tasnim |
The US and Israeli militaries launched an offensive against Iran on the morning of 28/2, targeting defense and intelligence facilities, as well as numerous high-ranking officials and generals.
The US-Israeli attacks resulted in the deaths of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking officials. Iran launched a retaliatory operation targeting Israeli territory, as well as numerous US-manned bases in several Middle Eastern countries.
Pham Giang (According to AFP, Times of Israel)
