Islamabad, June 17, 2025: In a dramatic announcement, Iran has claimed that its air defense systems successfully shot down four Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jets. According to Iranian officials, the strikes were carried out using the Bavar-373 and other advanced air defense platforms after the jets allegedly violated Iranian airspace during a covert operation.
The Iranian military has also released an image which it asserts shows the wreckage of one of the downed F-35I “Adir” jets—Israel’s custom variant of the U.S.-made fifth-generation aircraft.
Iran’s statement has caused a media frenzy, but Israel has swiftly dismissed the claim, calling it false and part of psychological warfare. So far, no credible satellite imagery or independent defense sources have confirmed the loss of any F-35s. Analysts have also questioned the authenticity of the image shared by Iranian media, suggesting it may be computer-generated or misrepresented.
The F-35 is among the most advanced and expensive fighter jets in the world. The standard F-35A costs around $82.5 million, while Israel’s enhanced F-35I variant is estimated at approximately $96 million per aircraft. If Iran’s claims were true, the damage could total nearly $384 million in aircraft losses alone, excluding operational and maintenance costs.
If verified, this would be the first successful downing of stealth jets in real combat, signaling a major shift in global air defense capabilities. However, without independent evidence, the world remains cautious. The incident reflects not just rising tensions between Iran and Israel but also the intensifying arms race between stealth technology and next-generation air defense systems.
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This alleged shoot-down, if true, would mark the first successful engagement of a fifth-generation stealth jet by an enemy air defense system in real combat. However, without concrete evidence or verification from neutral defense intelligence, the world remains skeptical. .
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