Quick Read
- An Israeli F-35I ‘Adir’ jet shot down an Iranian YAK-130 over Tehran on March 4, 2026.
- This marks the first time an F-35 has ever shot down a manned fighter aircraft.
- It is also the first air-to-air combat for the Israeli Air Force against a manned aircraft in over 40 years.
- The F-35 is a U.S.-made 5th-generation stealth multirole fighter; the YAK-130 is a Russian-made trainer/light attack jet.
TEL AVIV (Azat TV) – An Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-35I Lightning II fighter jet, known as the ‘Adir,’ made aviation history on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, by successfully shooting down a manned Iranian YAK-130 fighter jet over the skies of Tehran. This incident marks the first-ever air-to-air kill of a manned aircraft by an F-35, a significant milestone that underscores the advanced capabilities of the U.S.-manufactured stealth fighter and reinforces Israel’s aerial superiority in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the engagement in a Wednesday morning statement, highlighting that the F-35, a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft, had previously only been credited with downing unmanned aerial targets, such as drones. This direct combat victory against a manned adversary provides critical validation for the F-35 program, which has often been at the center of debates regarding its cost and operational effectiveness.
F-35 Achieves First Manned Kill in Decades for IAF
The aerial engagement over Tehran represents not only a historic first for the F-35 but also for the Israeli Air Force. According to both The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post, this is the first time an IAF jet has been involved in air-to-air combat with a manned aircraft in more than 40 years. The last such instance occurred in November 1985, when an IAF F-15 shot down two Syrian MiG-23 fighter jets over Lebanon.
The Iranian YAK-130, a Russian-designed light attack aircraft primarily used as an advanced training jet, was reportedly engaged by the F-35I ‘Adir’ during the ongoing hostilities. While the YAK-130 is capable of carrying weapons for light combat missions and has been utilized by the Iranian Air Force in the current war, it lacks the stealth features, speed, and advanced sensor fusion capabilities of the F-35.
F-35’s Advanced Capabilities Displayed
Manufactured by U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, the F-35 Lightning II is widely regarded as the most lethal, survivable, and connected fighter aircraft in production today. Its design allows it to perform a multitude of roles, including air combat, ground attack, and intelligence gathering, all while maintaining a low radar signature due to its stealth technology. Pilots often refer to the F-35 as a ‘flying computer’ because of its ability to integrate vast amounts of data from various sensors and display it coherently in the cockpit, providing an unparalleled situational awareness advantage over adversaries.
The F-35 boasts a top speed of approximately Mach 1.6 (1,200 miles per hour) and comes in three main variants, catering to conventional runways, aircraft carriers, and vertical landing capabilities. Its widespread adoption by the U.S. and numerous allied countries, including Israel’s custom-modified F-35I ‘Adir,’ positions it as a cornerstone of modern air power.
Broader Context of Regional Aerial Superiority
This significant air-to-air victory comes amid a renewed confrontation with Iran, following a 12-day conflict in June 2025. In the current campaign, Israeli aircraft have reportedly dropped over 4,000 bombs and conducted 1,600 sorties in just four days, targeting Iran’s strategic capabilities and air defense systems, as confirmed by the IDF. The IDF’s recent targeting of dozens of Iranian air defense systems during ‘Operation Roaring Lion’ further bolstered its aerial superiority throughout Iran.
The F-35’s combat prowess was also highlighted recently by other allied forces. Just days prior to the Israeli incident, the U.K. Ministry of Defense announced that a Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35B jet had achieved its first confirmed combat kill by shooting down ‘uncrewed aerial systems’ over Jordanian airspace. The RAF, which received its F-35s in 2012 and reached initial operational capability in 2018, also used a Typhoon aircraft to intercept Iranian drones in Iraqi airspace, demonstrating a multi-faceted approach to aerial defense.
The F-35’s historic downing of a manned Iranian jet serves as a powerful testament to its combat effectiveness, validating its design as a superior platform for air superiority and strike missions. This event is poised to influence ongoing discussions about the F-35 program’s strategic value and technological dominance in contemporary military aviation.