First Air-to-Air Kill for F-35: Historical Footage Shows Iranian Yak-130 Downed Over Tehran

In a landmark military event, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released new footage on Thursday, March 5, 2026, documenting the downing of an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran. This operation, carried out by an Israeli F-35I Adir, marks the first-ever manned aircraft kill in the history of the F-35 stealth fighter program. It also represents the first time in nearly 40 years that the Israeli Air Force has engaged and shot down a manned enemy aircraft in aerial combat.

According to IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin, the Iranian plane had taken off from Mehrabad Airport in the heart of the capital. In the video, the Israeli pilot can be heard confirming the strike: "It's done, target is down, continuing the attack." While the Yak-130 is a relatively modern Russian-made advanced trainer and light combat aircraft, it proved no match for the fifth-generation stealth technology of the F-35. This incident further underscores the total air superiority established by the Israeli-American alliance over Iranian airspace since the beginning of the conflict.