'We didn't know F35 was invisible': Memes erupt after 'wiped-out' Iran air defence hit most-advanced jet

The conflict in the Middle East took a sharp turn on Thursday after Iran claimed it had struck a US F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet, one of the most advanced and expensive aircraft in the American arsenal. While US officials confirmed the jet was damaged and forced into an emergency landing, they said the pilot was safe and an investigation is underway. The incident, reported to have taken place on March 19, has quickly moved beyond military briefings into viral meme culture, with social media users in Iran flooding timelines with jokes and animated clips mocking the high-tech jet.

Also Read: Why F35 fighter jet claimed hit by Iran is a big deal for world's most-advanced stealth fighter jet

Meme war breaks out after F-35 incident

Iranians have flooded social media with playful memes mocking the incident. In on of the posts, a user shared an animated video saying "Iranians are now making jokes about the F35." Attached is a short animated video that has gone viral, showing cartoonish Sayyad missiles chasing and blasting F-35 jets out of the sky in exaggerated, humorous style. The clip features playful explosions, dramatic sound effects, and over-the-top celebrations—classic meme territory that captures national pride mixed with schadenfreude.


Another shows the stealth jet being “peek-a-booed” by Iranian defences, poking fun at its supposed invisibility.

Another viral comment poked fun at the jet’s stealth reputation, saying, "Sorry, we didn't know it was invisible".

In a more pop-culture twist, one user even shared a clip inspired by the Bollywood film 3 Idiots, captioning it with a taunt aimed at the US.

What the US confirmed

According to a CNN report citing US defence officials, the aircraft was indeed hit during a mission over Iran but managed to make an emergency landing at a regional base.

Capt Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, confirmed the development. He said the jet was "flying a combat mission over Iran" when it was forced to land.

Also Read: How has the Iran-Israel war disrupted the cricket matches in England?

"The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition," Hawkins added. "This incident is under investigation."

Iran claims major breakthrough

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the strike, stating that the jet was hit by its air defence systems at 2:50 a.m. local time.

"The fate of the fighter jet is unclear and under investigation, and the likelihood of its crash is very high," it said.

The IRGC also claimed that its forces had downed more than 125 US-Israeli drones, pointing to what it described as improvements in its air defence network.

Why the F-35 matters

The F-35 Lightning II is considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world and forms a key part of US and allied air power. More than 19 countries either operate or plan to deploy the aircraft, which costs upwards of $100 million per unit.

Iran’s claim, if proven accurate, would mark the first reported instance of the country successfully hitting a US aircraft during the ongoing conflict that began in late February.

US maintains confidence despite setbacks

Despite the incident, US officials have projected confidence in their campaign. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US is "winning decisively" and claimed Iran’s air defence systems have been "flattened".

However, the conflict has also seen other setbacks. According to the report, three F-15 jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences, though all crew members ejected safely.

In another incident, a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq last week, killing all six crew members on board. The US military said the crash was "not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."