Iran Claims Ballistic Missile Strike Destroyed Three US F-35 Stealth Jets in Jordan

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Thursday that a ballistic missile strike targeted Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, destroying three United States F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets and severely damaging three others.

According to an IRGC statement carried by Iranian media outlets, including Iran International and the semi-official Fars News Agency, the missile strike targeted an aircraft parking ramp and a maintenance hangar housing US combat aircraft. The IRGC asserted that the attack was launched in direct retaliation for a recent US air strike on residential areas on Iran’s Qeshm Island. The Guard also claimed that several US military officers and technical maintenance personnel were killed in the strike.

The United States military has not confirmed any loss of aircraft or personnel, and independent international media outlets have not verified the IRGC’s claims.

Military analysts note that an F-35A Lightning II stealth jet carries an estimated unit cost exceeding $100 million depending on configuration and procurement terms. If independently verified, the destruction of three aircraft would represent a direct loss of over $300 million in hardware alone, excluding hangar infrastructure and additional equipment.

The Iranian claim follows an announcement by US Central Command (CENTCOM) that American forces conducted a widespread wave of retaliatory air strikes against dozens of IRGC-linked sites inside Iran. CENTCOM stated that its operations targeted military command centers, missile and drone storage sites, coastal surveillance posts, and air defence positions. Iranian state media reported that the US strikes on Qeshm Island resulted in three deaths and two injuries.

Regional Impact and Interceptions

Spillover from the military escalation continues to affect neighboring states across the region:

• Jordan: Air defence forces intercepted and downed five incoming Iranian missiles over eastern territory on Thursday morning, marking the fourth consecutive day of missile and drone interceptions. No casualties were reported on the ground.

• Kuwait: Government authorities confirmed that an Iranian strike damaged a building belonging to a Chinese firm, resulting in the death of one worker.

Key Capabilities of the F-35 Lightning II

The F-35 Lightning II is widely regarded as one of the world’s most advanced fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft:

• Stealth and Avionics: Designed with radar-evading stealth geometry and integrated sensor fusion, enabling the jet to penetrate heavily defended airspace while sharing real-time tactical data across network-linked allied platforms.

• Performance: Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine, capable of reaching top speeds of Mach 1.6 with an internal weapons bay holding precision-guided munitions and air-to-air missiles.

• Operational Role: Deployed extensively by US forces in Middle Eastern operations to suppress enemy air defence networks and neutralize high-value missile infrastructure.