First F-35 Air-to-Air Kill: Israeli Jet Downs Iranian Fighter Over Tehran

An Israeli Air Force F-35I “Adir” shot down an Iranian YAK-130 fighter aircraft over Tehran on Wednesday morning, the IDF announced, marking the first confirmed air-to-air kill by an F-35 anywhere in the world.

The military said the aircraft was identified as a threat to the Air Force’s freedom of operation during ongoing strikes in the Iranian capital. It described the incident as the first fighter jet engagement of the current war and the first confirmed Israeli air-to-air shootdown since 1985.

While F-35 aircraft have been used in combat operations by several countries in recent years, no publicly confirmed instance of the stealth jet shooting down a manned fighter aircraft had been reported before Wednesday’s incident.

According to the military, the Iranian jet took off while Israeli aircraft were operating in the area. The Israeli pilot identified the aircraft as a threat, and a brief aerial encounter followed, and the Iranian aircraft was subsequently downed.

The YAK-130 is a Russian-made jet originally designed as an advanced trainer for fighter pilots. Although it is primarily used to prepare crews for more sophisticated aircraft, it can also be equipped with weapons and used in light combat roles. In recent days, defense reporting has indicated that Iran deployed YAK-130 aircraft on patrol over Tehran as Israeli and American aircraft operated in the area.

Much of Iran’s air force is made up of older American-era F-4 and F-5 fighter jets. Compared to those aircraft, the YAK-130 is considered more modern, though it is not designed as a frontline air superiority fighter. Analysts say that even a limited Iranian air presence could pose challenges for drones and close-range strike missions operating over Tehran.

Earlier this week, the IDF reported striking Iranian fighter jets on the runway moments before they could take off. Two aircraft, one F-4 and one F-5, were preparing for departure when they were hit. 

The announcement came as the Air Force launched its tenth wave of strikes in Tehran since the start of the operation. In a statement, the military said: “The Air Force has now begun a broad wave of attacks targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran.”

The last confirmed Israeli air-to-air shootdown occurred on November 24, 1985, when an Israeli Air Force F-15 “Baz” downed two Syrian MiG-23 fighter jets during an engagement over Lebanon.