Iran shoots down second US F-35 fighter jet, says pilot survival unlikely

Iran claimed on Friday that the military has shot down a second F-35 fighter jet of the United States over central Iran, Reuters reported, citing Mehr news agency. As the US-Israeli war with Iran is about to enter its sixth week, the country claimed that the survival of the pilot is unlikely.

However, there has been no confirmation from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) yet.

Also read: Fire erupts at Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery after drone attack hits key oil hub


Earlier on March 2, CENTCOM confirmed the downing of three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles aircraft flying in support of Operation Epic Fury over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident.

During active combat, the defence authority said, that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones, the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were "mistakenly" shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses.

In a statement released on March 31, CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper said that the military is making 'undeniable progress' in Operation Epic Fury.

"Now in our 5th week of the campaign, it is my operational assessment that we are making undeniable progress. We don't see their navy sailing. We don't see their aircraft flying, and their air and missile defense systems have largely been destroyed," Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander said.

Iran strikes Israel

Meanwhile, Iran also fired missiles towards Israel on Friday morning, which the country's military was operating to intecept.

Israel's military said in a statement it had "identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel". It added "defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat".

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement published by broadcaster IRIB early Friday that it had targeted areas of Tel Aviv and the port city of Eilat with long-range missiles.

Also read: Why 'F35 hit by Iran' is a big deal for world's most-advanced stealth fighter jet that was supposed to be 'unkillable'

Operation Epic Fury

The US CENTCOM launched 'Operation Epic Fury' on February 28 with strikes targetting to dismantle the Iranian regime's security apparatus, "prioritizing locations that pose an imminent threat".

The military has deployed nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines, guided-missile destroyers and refueling and supply ships across sea routes as a part of the major operation.

For aerial operations, CENTCOM has deployed B-1 Bombers, B-2 Stealth Bombers and B-52 Bombers, along with numeorus fighter jets, including F-15, F-16, F-18 and stealth fighters like F-22 and F-35.

Alongside A-10 attack jets, the Trump-led military operation includes electronic warfare aircraft EA-18G and EC-130H. E-2D airborne early warning & control aircraft is also a part of the mission.

Other aircraft involved in the strikes against Iran include U-2 and RC-135 Reconnaissance Aircraft, E-11A Communications Aircraft, C-17 Globemaster Cargo Aircraft, C-130J Cargo Aircraft and KC-135 and KC-46 Refueling Aircraft.

As per official data, CENTCOM has deployed KC-130 Hercules Tankers, AH-64 Apache Helicopters, MH-60 Sea Hawk Helicopters, V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft, MQ-9 Surveillance and Attack Drones and LUCAS One-Way Attack Drones, alongside "special capabilities" which it cannot disclose.

Click here to check live updates of US-Iran war

Why is F-35 fighter jet a big deal

The incident of Iranian military striking down America's F-35 fighter jet is a 'big deal' and here's why: The airctaft is widely considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world and a cornerstone of US air power.

The F-35 programme has already cost around $450 billion to date. According to a report by the US Government Accountability Office, the fighter jet programme has also been plagued by mounting costs and delays, with total lifetime expenses projected to exceed $2 trillion over several decades.

The F-35 fighter jet is built to evade radar detection and operate deep inside heavily defended airspace. Designed with stealth capabilities, a successful strike against it raises questions about whether adversaries are improving their ability to detect or track such aircraft.

The crucial fighter jet also relies on advanced sensor fusion, combining data from multiple sources into a single real-time battlefield view. This gives the operating pilots a decisive edge in identifying and engaging threats before being detected. In addition, the F-35 plays a central role in network-centric warfare, sharing data across aircraft, ships and ground systems. It functions not just as a fighter but as part of a larger combat network.

F-35 technical specifications

Cannon: 25 mm GAU-22/A
Air-to-air missiles: two AIM-120C/D
Bombs: two GBU-31 JDAM (approximately 907 kg each)
Standard internal weapons load: configured to carry weapons internally to maintain stealth profile
Weight: around 31,750 kg
Speed: up to Mach 1.6 (approximately 1,930 km/h)
Engine: F135-PW-100
Maximum thrust: around 178 kN
Military thrust: around 111 kN
Combat radius: more than 1,093 km (internal fuel, USAF profile)
Maximum g-rating: up to 9 g

(With inputs from Reuters, AFP)