Iran displayed debris from an F-15 fighter jet, even though it claimed to have shot down a U.S. F-35
The Iranian military officially announced that it had shot down a U.S. Air Force fighter jet over its territory, providing video footage of the aircraft’s wreckage as evidence.
Although initial reports from Iranian media suggested the destruction of the latest F-35, a detailed analysis of the aircraft’s structure confirmed a different model.
Experts from Defence Blog, after analyzing parts of the fuselage and distinctive external mounting points, identified the aircraft as an F-15E Strike Eagle.
According to preliminary data, the aircraft belonged to the 494th Fighter Squadron of the U.S. 48th Fighter Wing.
This unit is normally based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom but is currently engaged in operations in the Middle East.
Photos of the wreckage that appeared online in April 2026 show significant damage to the aircraft’s structure.
Confirmation of this incident would mark the first combat loss of a U.S. Air Force manned aircraft over Iran since the start of the large-scale conflict in late February.
As a reminder, Iran has dismissed Trump’s peace initiatives.
The U.S. is also surprised by the scale of Iran’s strike.
