Iranian authorities have released footage they say shows a downed US Air Force fighter jet over their territory, with available imagery indicating the aircraft may be an F-15E Strike Eagle rather than the initially claimed F-35.
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According to Defense Blog on April 3, Iranian state-affiliated channels published video of wreckage believed to belong to a US aircraft.
The outlet reports that early claims from Iranian sources identified the jet as an F-35, but subsequent analysis of visible components suggests the aircraft more closely matches the configuration of an F-15E Strike Eagle.
NEW — 🇮🇷🇺🇸 The Iranian Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters claims:
— UK Report (@UK_REPT) April 3, 2026
“We shot down an American F-15 over the skies of Markazi Province in central Iran.
The pilot’s chances of survival are slim.”
No American denial/response has been published yet. pic.twitter.com/3NNyqvywVi
According to Defense Blog, details in the footage—including structural elements of the fuselage and external mounting points—do not align with the stealth design of the F-35, instead corresponding to features typical of the F-15E.
The outlet notes that the aircraft is believed to be from the 494th Fighter Squadron, a US Air Force unit that operates the Strike Eagle platform.
The video shows scattered debris consistent with a twin-engine aircraft used for long-range strike missions. The F-15E is designed for deep strike operations against defended targets while maintaining air-to-air combat capability, and remains a key component of US tactical aviation.
Earlier the IRGC published footage showing the interception of what appears to be a U.S. F-15 fighter jet, although they claimed this was a separate incident over Qeshm Island in southern Iran, whereas the other fighter jet was reportedly shot down over central Iran.
— AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) April 3, 2026
It's… https://t.co/DJMBurL5g3 pic.twitter.com/d9AcIdUFZN
No official confirmation has been issued by the Pentagon or the US Air Force. Iranian officials have not disclosed how the aircraft was engaged or what systems were used, and no information has been provided regarding the crew’s status.
According to Defense Blog, if confirmed, the incident would mark the first known combat loss of a crewed US Air Force aircraft over Iranian territory since the start of the current escalation. Key details—including the mission profile, exact location, and operational context—remain unclear.
Earlier reports indicated that several US AN/TPY-2 missile-tracking radars—key components of the THAAD air defense system—may have been damaged in Iranian strikes across the Middle East, with satellite imagery suggesting possible impacts at sites in the UAE, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
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