The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday shared the first footage of the country's Air Force shooting down an Iranian YAK-130 fighter over Tehran’s skies.
The IDF confirmed that the YAK-130 was shot down by an Israeli ‘Adir’ (F-35I) fighter jet, while also indicating that the strikes “continue”.
“Completed, the target is down, continuing to strike”: First footage from the ‘Adir’ (F-35I) fighter jet shooting down an Iranian fighter jet (YAK-130) over the skies of Tehran. Yesterday (Wednesday), an ‘Adir’ (F-35I) Israeli Air Force fighter jet shot down an Iranian fighter jet (YAK-130) over the skies of Tehran,” the IDF said in a statement.
Watch the video here:
The statement further said that the Israeli Air Force is continuing to strike dozens of infrastructure sites of Iran and “is operating to obtain aerial superiority over the skies of Tehran.”
The ‘Adir’- Yak-130 dogfight in Tehran's skies
The IDF had said on Wednesday its F-35I fighter jet - “Adir” - shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 fighter aircraft over the skies of Tehran on the fifth day of the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which has plunged the West Asian region into a war.
According to the IDF post on social media platform X, Wednesday’s dogfight was the first shootdown in history of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 fighter jet.
The F-35, developed by American defence and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin, is considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, with its shape, internal sensors, weapons, and fuel contributing to the aircraft's stealth, or “low observability.”
Iran's YAK-130 is a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft originally developed by Yakovlev and Aermacchi.
Six days into the war that US President Donald Trump suggested could last a month or longer, hundreds of people have been killed in Iran, including some Trump said he had considered as possible future leaders of the country.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have released historic cockpit footage showing an Israeli F-35I "Adir" stealth fighter shooting down an Iranian Yak-130 advanced trainer/light combat aircraft over Tehran.
This engagement, which took place on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, is being cited as the first-ever air-to-air kill of a manned aircraft by an F-35 in global military history. It also marks the first time in approximately 40 years that the Israeli Air Force has shot down a manned enemy aircraft.
Key Details of the Interception
The Engagement: The shootdown occurred during an Israeli strike mission targeting military infrastructure in the Iranian capital. According to the IDF, the Yak-130 had taken off from Tehran's Mehrabad Airport and was intercepted because it "posed a threat" to Israeli aircraft operating in the area.
The Pilot’s Report: In the released footage, the F-35I pilot is heard confirming the hit over the radio, stating: "Executed, the target has fallen. The target has fallen. Continuing the strike".
The Aircraft: The Yak-130 is a Russian-made subsonic two-seat jet used primarily for advanced training, though it can carry up to 3,000 kg of weaponry. Ironically, its Italian-made counterpart, the M-346 Master (known as the "Lavi"), is used by the Israeli Air Force for training its own pilots.
Context: This incident occurred on the fifth day of "Operation Epic Fury," a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Watch the Footage
You can view the released footage from various official news sources below:
Footage of Israeli F-35I Shooting Down Iranian Yak-130 Over Tehran (The Free Press Journal)Watch 'Historic' Moment Israel Shoots Down YAK-130 Iranian Fighter Jet (New York Post)Israel Releases Footage of F-35 Shooting Down Iranian Jet (CNN-News18)
Reports indicate the Israeli Air Force plans to mark the specific F-35I involved with a "victory mark" decal, a tradition for aircraft that achieve air-to-air kills.
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