A new video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly shows the stealth fighter F-35I “Adir” shooting down an Iranian Air Force Yak-130 combat trainer over Tehran.
According to Israeli authorities, this incident could be the first aerial kill recorded by an F-35 against a manned aircraft in an actual combat situation.
The video was captured by the F-35I’s own EOTS (Electro-Optical Targeting System) system, which is an advanced electro-optical sensor equipment used for target detection, tracking, and designation. The video shows the moment of impact where the Israeli fighter jet appears to have shot down the Yak-130 after locking on to its target.
According to the IDF, the downed aircraft was a Yak-130, a Russian-built model primarily used for advanced pilot training, but can also be used for light attack missions.
F-35’s first aerial kill recorded
If confirmed, this incident will mark an important milestone in the operational history of the F-35 Lightning II, which is considered one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. Although this fighter has participated in several military operations since its deployment, there has been no official report of an air-to-air kill against a manned aircraft until now.
This incident may also have historical significance for the Israeli Air Force. According to military sources, Israel’s last aerial victory was in November 1985, when F-15 fighter jets shot down two Syrian MiG-23s during a conflict in the Middle East.
The previous video also captured the plane crash scene.
Even before Israel’s official video was released, a video showing an unidentified aircraft crashing over Tehran was spreading on social media. In one video, two crew members were captured escaping and parachuting down, raising the possibility that the crew members survived the accident.
However, the situation is still controversial. Both Iran and Israel claim they shot down the other’s aircraft, but there has been no independent confirmation to date.
Source and image: Israel Defense Forces (IDF), video released on social media. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Israeli Defense Force releases new video of the moment an F-35I shoots down an Iranian Yak-130Video: Israeli Defense Force (IDF)#f35i #yak130 pic.twitter.com/L44qaYfRC8
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