Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)
Iran claimed on March 21 that its air defense systems had shot down an American-made F-15 fighter jet over its southern region.
The semi-official ISNA news agency, citing a statement from the Islamic Republic’s Joint Air Defense Command, said that the warplane was intercepted near Hormuz Island. The statement added that the jet had fired a missile before being targeted by Iranian air defense systems.
Later, video footage of the engagement was released. The footage, apparently taken from a ground-based imager thermal tracking system, shows what appears to be two anti-aircraft missiles passing right under what appears to be an F-15. However, no blasts are clear.
The footage ends with several bright flashes, which may be caused by a fire aboard the fighter jet, or simply by the pilot deploying flares as a part of an evasion maneuver.
Both the U.S. and Israel are flying F-15s in the war against Iran, mainly the advanced F-15E Strike Eagle version. The F-15E was developed for long-range precision ground attacks while retaining strong air-to-air capability, with a top speed over Mach 2.5 and a large weapons payload. A single fighter jet of this type could cost upwards of $90 million.
The U.S. has already acknowledged losing three F-15Es from its air force, but these fell as a result of Kuwaiti friendly fire on March 2
Neither the U.S. or Israel has yet commented on Iran’s latest claims, but a day earlier the Israeli Air Force said that one of its fighter jets came under anti-aircraft fire over Iran.
“The crew acted according to procedures, no damage was caused to the aircraft, and the mission was completed as planned,” the IDF said in a statement.
Just three days earlier, an F-35 Lightning II fighter jet of the U.S. Air Force made a “hard landing” at an undisclosed American air base in the Middle East after getting hit by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile that caused damage and even wounded the pilot.
The U.S. Central Command acknowledged the incident, and later reports revealed that the fighter jet, which costs more than $100 million, won’t be returning to service anytime soon.
The latest incidents indicate that Iran is successfully restoring its air defenses, and as the war drags on, both the U.S. and Israel will likely take more aerial losses.
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another dead americunt goat fukker
all decoys were hit as planned
jared kushner trumps bag man has collected billions from the arab countries in the region to provide protection at the expense of american lives and property. ..kushner trumps son in law is a good friend of bibi and an avid zionist.