Islamabad, June 17, 2025: During the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, Iran has claimed to have shot down four Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jets over its airspace. The F-35s, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp, are among the most advanced fifth-generation stealth aircraft in the world.
Following Iran’s bold announcement, the financial markets reacted swiftly — Lockheed Martin’s shares on the NYSE (Ticker: LMT) saw a sharp drop of 4.01%, closing at $466.92 during midday trading on June 16.
The fall amounts to a $19.53 dip in value within a single trading session, highlighting investor concern over geopolitical instability and the potential threat to the credibility and operational security of the F-35 program. The market slide comes just hours after Iranian media released footage and details of what they claim are the remains of the downed aircraft.
Lockheed Martin, headquartered in the United States, is the sole manufacturer of the F-35 Lightning II — a multi-role stealth fighter used by several Western-aligned nations, including Israel. The reported downing of four such jets, if verified, would mark a significant blow to the aircraft’s operational record and could trigger increased scrutiny from defense clients worldwide.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has strongly denied the Iranian claim, labeling it “baseless propaganda.” No independent verification has been provided as yet, and U.S. defense officials have not commented publicly on the matter.
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This development is being closely monitored by global defense analysts and financial markets alike, as any confirmed losses of such high-value, next-gen assets could shift perceptions in both military strategy and investor confidence in the defense sector.
Read More: Iran Shoots Down Israeli F-35? Here’s What We Know
