Can an F-35 be shot down? Iran claims downing of Israeli stealth fighter, capturing female pilot; truth a casualty in fog of war

Time of India

14-06-2025

Iranian state media
on June 14 claimed that the country's air defense systems had successfully shot down two Israeli F-35 Adir stealth fighter jets and had captured one of the female pilots, following Israel's recent cross-border strikes,
Operation Rising Lion
.
The announcement has ignited a firestorm of speculation and skepticism, as international observers scramble to verify the veracity of
Iran
's assertions.
Can F-35s be shot down?
The F-35 Lightning II is marketed as one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. It incorporates radar-evading stealth technology, electronic warfare systems, and sensors.
With an extremely low radar cross section area of 0.0015 meters, which is about the size of a golf ball, it is highly improbable that an F-35 can be tracked by an Iranian defence radar.
Live Events
Although history reminds us that stealth does not equal invincibility. During the NATO bombing campaign in Yugoslavia in 1999, a US Air Force F-117A Nighthawk, another stealth aircraft, was shot down by a Serbian air defense crew using old Soviet-made SA-3 missiles.
That incident, which resulted in the dramatic rescue of pilot Dale Zelko and eventual friendly meetings between him and his adversary Colonel Zoltán Dani, has become a legendary case study in the vulnerabilities of stealth technology.
However, that event was well-documented, unlike these claims by the Iranian forces, with images of the wreckage broadcast worldwide and both parties eventually confirming details of the encounter.
Tehran's response
The Iranian reports, disseminated through semi-official outlets like Tasnim and IRNA, also stated that over 78 Iranians were killed in the Israeli strikes, including top leaders, scientists, women, and children. A further 320 individuals were reportedly wounded.
Tehran has described the operation as a 'massive and unprecedented' act of aggression by Israel, which, according to their military officials, involved the targeting of nuclear and defense-related infrastructure.
In response, Iran launched a barrage of surface-to-air missiles and drone interceptions, allegedly managing to neutralize multiple Israeli air assets, including two of the most advanced jets in Israel's the US-made F-35 'Adir.'
Israel's denial
Israel, however, has flatly denied the Iranian claims. A spokesperson for the
Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) called the reports 'entirely fabricated' and 'part of a disinformation campaign designed to save face after the heavy losses Iran suffered during Operation Rising Lion.'
As of Saturday morning, the IDF had released no confirmation of any jets being lost in the operation, and no credible independent sources have been able to verify Iran's story.
There have been no released satellite images of wreckage, no visual confirmation from foreign media outlets, and no corroborative statements from international monitoring bodies or neutral military observers.
Despite the sensational nature of the claims, even international outlets with strong ties in the region, such as Sky News and Al Jazeera, have reported that they have yet to find any confirmation of the F-35 shoot-down or the alleged capture of a pilot.
A different intention?
Some analysts believe that the claim may be part of a broader psychological operation aimed at boosting domestic morale and asserting regional strength after the humiliating blow dealt by Israel's air campaign.
The current situation
In Iran, mourning ceremonies are reportedly underway for those killed in the Israeli strikes. Government officials have vowed retaliation and called on the international community to condemn what they call 'an act of naked aggression.'
Meanwhile, in Israel, dozens of civilians remain hospitalized following missile and drone strikes launched in response by Iran.