Iran Shot Down Two Stealth Fighter Jets | Drudge Retort

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Iran Shot Down Two Stealth Fighter Jets

In a major event that has drawn global attention, Iran has become the first country in the world to shoot down fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jets. These aircraft, considered among the most advanced and expensive warplanes ever built, were being used by the Israeli military in an early Friday morning attack against Iran. ... This successful action by Iran marks a global first -- no other country has been able to bring down these stealth aircraft in active combat until now.

Posted by GOnoles92 at 09:33 AM | 44 COMMENTS | permalink

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Israel, one of the few countries allowed to buy and use this aircraft, received its first F-35 jets around the year 2016. These were provided by the United States under a program called the Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Israel later developed its own version of the aircraft, known as the F-35I, which includes special changes to better suit its military needs.

That is why the downing of not one, but two of these jets by Iran is a very big deal. It shows that even the most advanced aircraft in the world are not impossible to stop.

By Deception shall they wage War.

Stealth is Relative,..I Guess.

Kudos to Iran. I hope they shoot more down.

Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind.

#1 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-06-14 10:02 AM

I'm curious to find out if this is actually the case. Iran has a history, like most of the pro-Hamas crowd, of spewing BS.

Below is a photo of Iran's claimed "stealth fighter" from a few years back. Gaze upon Iranian cutting-edge tech and tremble in fear!

#2 | Posted by censored at 2025-06-14 12:03 PM

Dude, the Israelis Lie and Obfuscate every day about almost everything.

The kill. Maim. And Torture when they're not Stealing everything in sight.

I believe Iran before them.

#3 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-06-14 12:11 PM

Yeah. Not buying it. One of the first casualties in any war is the truth.

I will wait for a trusted source to verify this.

I have "flown" a simulator of the F35.

It only remains stealthy until the bomb bay doors open.

The aircraft can do other things to break stealth. But that would be considered pilot error in a combat situation.

#4 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-06-14 06:37 PM

Now Iran claims to have Shot Down a THIRD F-35. Capturing ANOTHER Pilot.

Lol.

#5 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-06-15 09:03 AM

I see the Left again sides against Israel

#6 | Posted by Maverick at 2025-06-15 10:24 AM

I see the Left again sides against Israel

#6 | Posted by Maverick at 2025-06-15 10:24 AM | Reply | Flag: MEH

I'm against Nuttywahoo and feel Zionism is just another supremacy thing our species is prone towards. He's been nagging the US to go after Iran for at least 30 years... always Iran is three weeks away from destroying the earth blah blah lions tigers and bears.

I do know that all my Israeli friends moved away from there... and the State Dept was having difficulty getting diplomats because no one wanted to work in Jerusalem.

I'm not going to apologise for my feelings... or be guilted... or buy into the obfuscations of how Israel is the lesser of two evils... It's hard not to feel bad news seems to follow that sect...

why?

#7 | Posted by RightisTrite at 2025-06-15 10:44 AM

They're entitled Bigots.

Goyim are as Cattle to the Chosen.

Talmudic scripture is absolutely Toxic.

The sense of victimhood combined with a belief in their group superiority created this monstrosity.

Getting Free Arms and Money from the West is also why.

They're Spoiled --------.

#8 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-06-15 10:53 AM

The story's false. The Iranian forces actually shot down a couple of those Tesla F-47 trucks, but the Israelites still paid $35mm for each truck ...

#9 | Posted by catdog at 2025-06-15 11:31 AM

I'm curious to find out if this is actually the case. Iran has a history, like most of the pro-Hamas crowd, of spewing BS.
#2 | POSTED BY CENSORED

Couldn't your favorite genocidal nation easily step forward and disprove the news?

Perhaps they're too busy falling over laughing at starving children in Gaza to care.

#10 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-06-15 01:17 PM

Yeah. Not buying it. One of the first casualties in any war is the truth. I will wait for a trusted source to verify this. I have "flown" a simulator of the F35. It only remains stealthy until the bomb bay doors open. The aircraft can do other things to break stealth. But that would be considered pilot error in a combat situation.
#4 | Posted by donnerboy

Yeah, an incredibly small radar cross section, equivalent to a golf ball is what I read. The only confirmed downing of a stealth aircraft was the F-117 in 1999 in Yugoslavia. But my understanding is that was mostly the fault of the US because we got careless, using the same route for repeat bombing runs, so the enemy knew exactly where to look.

The thing is, Israel is said to have altered the F-35 from the "factory model," adding external fuel tanks to extend range to eliminate the need for aerial refueling when visiting their Iranian buddies. No idea how that affected the stealthiness of the aircraft.

The Chinese claim to have the tech to detect the F-35 using their satellites to follow exhaust plumes, not the actual jet. www.slashgear.com Who knows how true that is, though?

#11 | Posted by censored at 2025-06-15 02:32 PM

#11

I'm pretty sure that if you've got a supersonic golf ball heading toward your territory with transponders turned off, it's probably a good idea to start shooting at it.

There are any number of things you can do to detect a stealth aircraft. These things have been flying for a while now, wouldn't surprise me if China developed a few good ones. And yeah, watching for exhaust is one. It's still a jet, no matter how much you do to try to cool the exhaust it's still gonna be there, it's still gonna be hotter than ambient, and it's still gonna have a detectable signature in the sky. And you can watch for combustion byproducts, it's still burning jet fuel, not pure hydrogen. Distributed microphone arrays are good for finding airplanes too.

#12 | Posted by DarkVader at 2025-06-15 03:02 PM

They could have run in to a wall of AAA. I'm sure the Iranians were firing everything they had. As donner said, once the bay doors open, their stealth is gone. They may have sacrificed stealth for additional payload on trailing flights. If they only lost 2 out of 200, I'd say that's pretty good.

#13 | Posted by willowby at 2025-06-15 03:55 PM

It's just a fake. Those images on Iranian news are absolutely not any F-35 empennage & engine in any configuration nor model.

#14 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-06-15 04:22 PM

If they only lost 2 out of 200, I'd say that's pretty good.

They only have 45.

#15 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-06-15 04:40 PM

If true just yet another example of people not realizing that the person or country you are attacking has tools in their tool box to inflict pain on you.

#16 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-06-15 05:32 PM

Who paid for these F35i. ? (which is a custom Israeli version)

#17 | Posted by Robson at 2025-06-15 07:12 PM

Who paid for these F35i. ? (which is a custom Israeli version)
#17 | Posted by Robson

Just a guess, but I'd say the J-O-O-S...

#18 | Posted by censored at 2025-06-15 08:39 PM

If true just yet another example of people not realizing that the person or country you are attacking has tools in their tool box to inflict pain on you.
#16 | Posted by truthhurts

You mean, like when Iran sicced Hamas on Israel to hunt down, rape, and murder 1,200 Israeli civilian men, women, and children on October 7th to sabotage Saudi-Israeli normalization? That's very perceptive of you!

I know the truth hurts sometimes, but you seem to be making some progress.

#19 | Posted by censored at 2025-06-15 08:44 PM

It's just a fake. Those images on Iranian news are absolutely not any F-35 empennage & engine in any configuration nor model.
#14 | Posted by sitzkrieg

Yeah, assumed those fake pics were used by garbage news sites for clicks.

Was wondering if the Iranians actually had anything to back up their extraordinary claims hidden in their Ayatollah Assa-whollah's turban. It's been over a day, so it would appear, no.

The Hamas-Lovers here and the world over must be in tears. Lion Juice is their beverage of choice, but it appears the Iranians might have been fibbing when they claimed to have it in stock.

#20 | Posted by censored at 2025-06-15 08:52 PM

@#12 ... These things have been flying for a while now ...

Possibly stated differently...

Is yesterday's "stealth" now today's "obvious?"

#21 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-06-15 09:03 PM

1,200 Israeli civilian men, women, and children

Would prefer not to have WW3 started in their names.

#22 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-06-15 09:17 PM

Still no images of one shot down F-35, let alone two.

#23 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-06-16 08:19 AM

Israel claims aerial superiority over Iran's capital, Tehran

www.nbcnews.com

#24 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-06-16 08:22 AM

I'm against Nuttywahoo and feel Zionism is just another supremacy thing our species is prone towards.

You'll be a good Muslim.

Still no images of one shot down F-35, let alone two.
#23 | POSTED BY SITZKRIEG

Found it ... and its hilarious
x.com

#25 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-06-16 08:37 AM

Advisors to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei are reportedly in talks with Russia to secure asylum in case the regime nears collapse, according to Iran International.

Can you imagine, telling people to go suicide bomb your enemies, while working out a asylum deal in case it doesn't workout for yourself.

Wonder if WrongIsTite would put on a suicide vest for Khamenei?

#26 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-06-16 08:48 AM

It's no wonder IAMRUNT supports Putin's tactics in Ukraine.

www.nbcnews.com

#27 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-06-16 09:00 AM

>Still no images of one shot down F-35, let alone two.
>#23 | POSTED BY SITZKRIEG

Found it ... and its hilarious
https://x.com/iran_militaryy/status/1934579291397804219
#25 | Posted by oneironaut

Well, I stand corrected.

It appears that Israel is sending their biggest and baddest pilots on these mission. But Iran managed to take down Israel's modified "F-35asaurus."

#28 | Posted by censored at 2025-06-16 09:07 AM

Gullivers F35

#29 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-06-16 11:14 AM

Drudge lefties fooled again. No evidence required if it reinforces their strongly held but unsupported beliefs.

#30 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-06-16 11:25 AM

"Dude, the Israelis Lie and Obfuscate every day about almost everything.
The kill. Maim. And Torture when they're not Stealing everything in sight.
I believe Iran before them."

You ignore everything Iran has done in the region to kill anyone that doesn't bow down to their theocracy. There isn't even a debate, Iran controls many terrorist groups and funds a lot of the deaths in the region. No, Israel isn't innocent but supporting a regime that oppresses women, kills people with differing opinions than the ruling theocrats, and wants the death of all other religions is not a good look. These things aren't fake, these are real atrocities they have been doing for decades now.

However, it's not surprising. There are a lot of parallels to your statement and the liberal ideology. Iran wants to destroy everyone who doesn't subscribe to their narrative, just like liberals are proving daily in America they want to do. It's so sad that we have American liberals who support the killing of anyone as long as they aren't on the same side. Your quote above is absolute proof of this, all because you want to ignore all of the missiles that Iran has levied at Israel and only want to focus on Israel's response. Sad. Very, very sad. It is no wonder that the white, privileged, American liberal is the most terrifying human on the planet today. They took the mantle from white redneck racists some time ago and that was something I never thought could happen but liberals worked very hard apparently.

#31 | Posted by humtake at 2025-06-16 11:25 AM

No evidence required if it reinforces their strongly held but unsupported beliefs.

#30 | POSTED BY VISITOR_

You just quoted MAGA rule #1

The human brain is the most complex structure in the known universe. And THIS Ipse Dixit nonsense is what you choose to use it for.

#32 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-06-16 12:13 PM

Hasn't Hair Furor been telling people for years that these fighters are invisible? How does one hit an invisible target? Another example of the stupidest, most disinterested, incurious person to ever seek the presidency. A literal MORON.

#33 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2025-06-16 01:53 PM

How does one hit an invisible target?

Blindly spraying lots of AAA in the hopes of hitting something? Worked a few times in Baghdad.

#34 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-06-16 02:19 PM

"I see the Left again sides against Israel
#6 | Posted by Maverick"

"The left" does side with either. This whole situation is abhorrent and was entirely avoidable. Had Trump not established the US as a bad actor by withdrawing from the Iran nuclear agreement then this would have never happened. The only account I see siding with Iran is the pro-russian poser account so I guess you could say Putin sides with Iran but I think we all knew that.

#35 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-06-16 02:25 PM

Now Iran CLAIMS to have SHOT DOWN A FOURTH F-35.....

Lockheed Martin stock is DOWN.

Lol.

#36 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-06-16 03:15 PM

We can't have peace. There's no money in peace.

#37 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-06-16 03:21 PM

"Dude, the Israelis Lie and Obfuscate every day about almost everything.
The kill. Maim. And Torture when they're not Stealing everything in sight.
I believe Iran before them."
You ignore everything Iran has done in the region to kill anyone that doesn't bow down to their theocracy. There isn't even a debate, Iran controls many terrorist groups and funds a lot of the deaths in the region. No, Israel isn't innocent but supporting a regime that oppresses women, kills people with differing opinions than the ruling theocrats, and wants the death of all other religions is not a good look. These things aren't fake, these are real atrocities they have been doing for decades now.
However, it's not surprising. There are a lot of parallels to your statement and the liberal ideology. Iran wants to destroy everyone who doesn't subscribe to their narrative, just like liberals are proving daily in America they want to do. It's so sad that we have American liberals who support the killing of anyone as long as they aren't on the same side. Your quote above is absolute proof of this, all because you want to ignore all of the missiles that Iran has levied at Israel and only want to focus on Israel's response. Sad. Very, very sad. It is no wonder that the white, privileged, American liberal is the most terrifying human on the planet today. They took the mantle from white redneck racists some time ago and that was something I never thought could happen but liberals worked very hard apparently.
#31 | Posted by humtake at 2025-06-16 11:25 AM

This needs to be preserved in a Ken Burns documentary with images of January 6th rioting.

.."and if one stealth aircraft should accidentally fall".. It's a shonda, I'm verklempt.

#38 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-06-16 06:11 PM

It is no wonder that the white, privileged, American liberal is the most terrifying human on the planet today.

#31 | POSTED BY HUMTAKE

You must stay in and hide.

#39 | Posted by Zed at 2025-06-16 06:13 PM

#31 | POSTED BY HUMTAKE

I mean, really. What a wuss.

#40 | Posted by Zed at 2025-06-16 06:16 PM

"It appears that Israel is sending their biggest and baddest pilots on these mission. But Iran managed to take down Israel's modified "F-35asaurus."

An actual F-35 could have fit in the weapons bay of this imagined beast.

#41 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-06-17 01:41 AM

"Advisors to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei are reportedly in talks with Russia to secure asylum in case the regime nears collapse, according to Iran International."

He can roomie with Al-Assad.

#42 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-06-17 01:43 AM

An actual F-35 could have fit in the weapons bay of this imagined beast.
#41 | Posted by madbomber

Much to the chagrin of the pro-Hamasers, Snopes says it's a fake. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/iran-israeli-f-35-fighter-jet/

No word yet on whether this other purported photo of an Iran-downed F-35 is also bogus.

#43 | Posted by censored at 2025-06-17 07:11 AM

.."and if one stealth aircraft should accidentally fall".. It's a shonda.
#38 | Posted by redlightrobot

Who is this Shonda you speak of? Is she of any relation to my African American neighbor, Visine?

#44 | Posted by censored at 2025-06-17 08:37 AM

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