Iran’s strike on the F-35 last week appears to have been the first successful incident of an F-35 being downed by ground fire, although the extent of the damage is still unclear.
The United States Air Force pilot of the F-35A Lightning II that was struck by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile reportedly suffered “shrapnel wounds” during the incident, according to the Air Force.
The conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) Lightning II was forced to make an emergency landing after taking damage. The pilot is reported to be in stable condition. The incident is still under investigation.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed to have “severely damaged” the fifth-generation stealth fighter that was hit on Thursday, March 19, although the extent of the damage to the aircraft has not been confirmed. Regardless of the severity, Thursday’s incident marks the first confirmed instances of a Lightning II taking any significant damage during a combat operation.
“Iran has developed air defense systems that can use passive infrared sensors rather than radar to target aircraft,” Air & Space Forces Magazine wrote. It added that the Iranian-backed Houthis had previously employed the sensors in Yemen to shoot down “around half a dozen MQ-9 Reapers during Operation Rough Rider last year.”
Although the F-35 has a low radar signature, the infrared sensors can “home in on heat,” which no aircraft has been able to fully disguise.
To date, no F-35 has ever been shot down in combat operations. However, around a dozen have been lost to past mishaps, which have typically been the fault of mechanical failures and pilot error. If confirmed, this would likely be the first time the multirole fighter has taken damage from enemy ground fire.
About the F-35A Lightning II
Currently, 20 countries have either adopted or are in the process of acquiring the F-35. More than 1,100 F-35s of all variants have been delivered, including approximately 850 F-35A models.
- Year Introduced: 2016
- Number Built: ~1,300+ (all variants)
- Length: 51.4 ft (15.7 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft (10.7 m)
- Weight (MTOW): 70,000 lb (31,750 kg)
- Engines: One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbofan (40,000 lbf thrust)
- Top Speed: Mach 1.6 (~1,200 mph / 1,930 km/h)
- Range: Over 1,350 mi (2,170 km) with internal fuel
- Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
- Loadout: Internal 25 mm GAU-22/A cannon, two AIM-120 AMRAAMs, and two GBU-31 JDAMs.
- Aircrew: 1
It is believed that between 12 and 18 US Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs are now deployed to the Middle East. In addition, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) operates roughly 50 F-35I Adir fighter jets, an Israeli-specific variant of the F-35A.
How Many Aircraft Has the US Lost over Iran So Far?
According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, as of this week, around 20 US Air Force aircraft have been destroyed or damaged since the United States launched Operation Epic Fury to target Iran on February 28.
In the first days of the fighting, three F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses, with some reports stating it was a Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet that shot down the fighters. All six crew members safely ejected and suffered no serious injuries.
Earlier this month, another six airmen were killed after their KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueler crashed in western Iraq. The US military has said that the incident was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” and an investigation is also underway. Another KC-135 was confirmed to have been damaged on the ground in Saudi Arabia during an Iranian missile strike.
At least a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones have also been destroyed, with some being struck on the ground.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
