Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Friday claimed it shot down a second US F-35 stealth fighter jet over central Iran, releasing images of wreckage to support its statement. The Pentagon has not confirmed the claim, while analysts say the visuals do not clearly establish the aircraft’s identity.
IRGC says new air defence system hit jet
In its statement, the IRGC said the aircraft “was hit by the new air defense system of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' aerospace force” before crashing in central Iran.
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It added, “Due to the severe explosion of the fighter jet upon impact and crash, it is unlikely that the pilot has escaped.”
The force also claimed this was the second fifth-generation fighter jet it had downed within 12 hours. It did not provide details about the earlier incident.
Images released, questions follow
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency published multiple images it said showed the wreckage of the downed jet. The photos, now widely shared online, appear to show scattered debris across a barren landscape.
Iran pointed to markings on the wreckage, including an “LN” tail code, linking the aircraft to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.
Tasnim described the strike as “the first response of our armed forces to the ramblings of the head of the terrorist American government,” referring to US President Donald Trump’s remarks about escalating attacks on Iranian infrastructure.
Analysts dispute F-35 identification
Independent analysts reviewing the images have raised doubts over the claim that the aircraft was an F-35. They noted that the paint scheme seen in the debris does not match what is typically associated with an F-35A.
Some experts suggested the wreckage could belong to an F-15E Strike Eagle instead. They pointed to red markings visible in the images, which align more closely with aircraft from the same squadron.
The size of the debris and lack of clear structural features have made a firm identification difficult.
No word from Pentagon
The Pentagon has not issued any statement on the IRGC’s claim so far.
Iran has made similar claims earlier in the conflict, including saying it had brought down a US AWACS surveillance aircraft. Its foreign minister had said that aircraft was destroyed by “a cheap Iranian drone.”
Conflict backdrop shapes narrative
The claim comes amid continuing military exchanges between the US, Israel and Iran. Since February 28, US and Israeli air operations have reportedly killed more than 1,340 people in Iran, according to Iranian authorities.
Iran, in turn, has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries that host US military assets.
F-35 hit during Iran mission last month
Last month, a US F-35 stealth fighter jet was damaged while flying a combat mission over Iran and had to make an emergency landing at an American base in the Middle East, US officials said. The pilot survived the incident and remained in stable condition, while authorities began an investigation into what went wrong.
According to US officials, the aircraft was likely struck during the mission, with initial assessments pointing towards Iranian fire. Tehran later claimed it had successfully targeted the jet using its air defence systems, though Washington stopped short of fully confirming that version.
Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, said the fifth-generation jet was on an active combat sortie when the situation forced the pilot to land. He confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that the pilot did not suffer serious injuries.
Why this incident drew attention
The episode stood out because the F-35 is seen as one of the most advanced fighter jets currently in service and a key part of US military strength.
The programme itself has already cost around $450 billion, and estimates suggest total spending could cross $2 trillion over its lifetime. Reports have also flagged repeated delays and rising costs linked to the project.
Built with stealth features, the F-35 is designed to avoid radar detection and operate in heavily defended areas. Any successful hit on such an aircraft raises fresh questions about whether rival air defence systems are becoming more capable.
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