A second US fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet has reportedly been shot down over central Iran by an advanced air-defence system operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iranian state media said on Friday. According to Press TV, citing a statement attributed to the spokesperson of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, the aircraft was brought down using a newly deployed air-defence system belonging to the IRGC Aerospace Force.
Pilot unlikely to have ejected
The report added that the crash triggered a “massive explosion,” with officials suggesting that the pilot was unlikely to have ejected or survived the impact.
“A second US fifth-generation F-35 was struck and downed over central Iran by a new IRGC Aerospace Force air-defence system. Given the massive explosion on impact and during the crash, the pilot is unlikely to have ejected,” Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters Spokesman stated as quoted by Press TV.
The same claims were made by the Central Headquarters of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), as reported by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), stating that the advanced stealth aircraft was shot down by the IRGC’s modern air defence system from the Lakenheath squadron.
“The second US F-35 fifth-generation fighter jet was hit and crashed in the central Iranian sky by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ modern air defence system from the LAKEN-HEATH squadron. Due to the severe explosion of the fighter jet upon impact and fall, it is unlikely that the pilot ejected,” PBUH stated as reported by IRIB.
Iran releases video
Iranian media has also released a video of this attack, in which a missile can be seen piercing through the clouds as it advances toward an F-35. The IRGC said that this represents a success for their new air-defense technology, which is capable of challenging even American stealth technology.ย
The US military has not yet officially confirmed this claim; however, reports of attacks targeting F-35s have been on the rise over the past few weeks.ย
Earlier, on March 19, Iran claimed to have become the first nation in the world to strike a US F-35 Lightning 2, one of the most valuable US aircraft and the backbone of the US’s fifth-generation warfighting capabilities.
Over 19 countries have already flown or are preparing to fly the Lightning 2, which is in great demand both within the USAF and among its allies.
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