F-35 Downs Iranian Fighter YAK-130 In First Air-To-Air Kill By Stealth Jet During Ongoing Israel-Iran War
This is believed to be the first time the new generation US-made F-35 has shot down a manned aircraft in combat. Image courtesy: US Air Force
In a major escalation in the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) claimed that one of its F-35I ‘Adir’ stealth fighter jets shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 aircraft over Tehran, marking what it described as a historic first in over 40 years.
According to the IDF, this is the first time in history that a manned fighter aircraft has been shot down by an F-35 in air-to-air combat. The incident marks a dramatic shift in the ongoing conflict between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other, and demonstrates the dominance of stealth aircraft in modern aerial warfare.
“An IAF F-35I “Adir” fighter jet shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 fighter jet. This is the first shootdown in history of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 “Adir” fighter jet,” the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) posted on X.
How did the Israeli F-35 bring down the Iranian aircraft?
The Israeli military said the F-35I Adir, Israel’s customised version of the US-made stealth fighter, intercepted and destroyed the Iranian YAK-130 fighter-trainer jet over the skies of Tehran as Israeli bombing raids continued across the country. The YAK-130, developed by Russia’s Yakovlev design bureau, is primarily a two-seat advanced jet trainer that can also perform light combat roles.
While not designed as a frontline fighter, the aircraft can carry weapons and is used for pilot training and limited strike missions.
The interception reflects Israel’s ability to operate advanced stealth aircraft deep inside Iranian airspace, analysts say.
Why is the F-35 considered one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets?
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is widely regarded as one of the most technologically advanced combat aircraft in the world. Its capabilities include stealth design that makes it difficult for enemy radars to detect, advanced sensors and data fusion allowing pilots to see and track threats across large distances.
F-35 fighter jets also posses network-centric warfare capability, enabling coordination with other aircraft, drones and ground systems; in addition to precision strike weapons carried internally, preserving its low radar signature. Israel operates a customised variant known as the F-35I “Adir”, which incorporates Israeli-developed electronic warfare systems and weapons.
What is happening on the ground as the war enters its fifth day?
The aerial clash came as powerful explosions rocked Tehran early Wednesday, with Iranian state television reporting blasts across the capital.
Israel confirmed its air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles, while explosions were also heard around Jerusalem amid continuing missile exchanges.
The current conflict erupted after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran last weekend, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered a wave of Iranian retaliation across the region. Nearly 800 people have reportedly been killed in Iran since the conflict began. US President Donald Trump has warned the war could last “a month or longer.”
Has the conflict expanded beyond Iran and Israel?
The conflict is increasingly spreading across the region. Israeli forces are also conducting airstrikes in Lebanon against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group that has entered the conflict in support of Tehran. Lebanon’s state media reported that at least four people were killed in an Israeli strike on a residential complex in Baalbeck.
Meanwhile, Israel said it has launched targeted strikes on Basij militia and internal security command centres in Tehran, accusing the Iranian regime of using them to maintain internal control during the conflict.
The IDF added that it also struck missile launchers and other military infrastructure, as both sides continue to exchange missile and drone attacks across the region.
What does F-35’s shootdown of Iran’s YAK-130 signal?
Military analysts say the first combat kill by an F-35 against a manned aircraft highlights a major technological shift in warfare. The incident demonstrates stealth fighter dominance in contested airspace, Israel’s ability to conduct deep-strike operations inside Iran, and the increasing role of advanced sensors, electronic warfare and networked combat systems.
