A new video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shows the moment an F-35I “Adir” stealth fighter allegedly shot down an Iranian Air Force Yak-130 fighter training aircraft over the skies of Tehran.
According to Israeli authorities, the incident represents the first documented aerial victory of an F-35 against a manned aircraft in real combat operations.
The images were captured by the F-35I’s own Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), an advanced electro-optical sensor system for detection, tracking and target assignment. The video shows the moment the Israeli jet locks onto the target before the hit that is said to have shot down the Yak-130 occurs.
According to the IDF, the aircraft shot down was a Yak-130, a Russian model used primarily for advanced pilot training but can also be used for light attack missions.
First air kill of an F-35 in combat
If confirmed, the incident would mark a milestone in the operational history of the F-35 Lightning II, considered one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. Although the aircraft has participated in several military operations since its entry into service, there have been no official records of an air-to-air shootdown against a manned aircraft.
For the Israeli Air Force, the event would also have its own historical significance. According to military sources, the last Israeli air victory was in November 1985, when an F-15 fighter jet shot down two Syrian MiG-23s during clashes in the Middle East.
Previous videos showed a plane crashing
Before the official Israeli material was released, videos were already circulating on social networks showing the crash of an unidentified plane over Tehran. One of the footage showed two crew members catapulting and parachuting to the ground, suggesting the crew may have survived the incident.
However, the situation remains controversial. Both Iran and Israel claim to have shot down enemy aircraft and no independent confirmation has been released so far.
Source and images: Israel Defense Forces (IDF), videos posted on social networks. This content was created using AI and reviewed by the 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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