Stealth F-35B Lightning II fighters of the Royal Air Force (RAF) carried out their first combat shootdown of Iranian drones while conducting operations in Jordan. The information was confirmed by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence, which indicated that the action took place within the framework of the air operations that London maintains in the Middle East.
According to official reports, RAF F-35Bs intercepted and shot down Iranian drones that posed a threat to forces deployed in the region. The mission was also supported by Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, tasked with providing air cover, as well as an Airbus Voyager tanker aircraft, which allowed the operation to be sustained through aerial refueling.
Although British authorities did not initially specify the exact model of the intercepted drones, various reports from international media outlets and specialized analysts indicated that the unmanned aircraft used by Iran in this type of operation usually belong to the Shahed family, widely employed in the Middle East and in other conflict zones. These platforms are characterized by their low cost, extended endurance, and ability to carry out saturation attacks against military targets.
The episode comes amid an increase in military activity in the Middle East, after United States and Israeli forces carried out strikes against Iranian military targets in recent days under the framework of Operation Epic Fury.
In addition to the latter, the deployment of military assets by the United Kingdom and other allies has also been highlighted, reinforcing their air and naval presence in response to drone and missile attacks attributed to Iran and allied groups in the region. In this context, the RAF maintains both F-35B and Typhoon fighters deployed in the area with the aim of contributing to air defense operations and the protection of allied forces.
For the United Kingdom, the shootdown also represents the first combat use of the F-35B in an air interception role, marking an operational milestone for the RAF’s fifth-generation component. The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter program, used both by the Royal Air Force and the carrier air wings of the Royal Navy, and constitutes one of the pillars of the modernization of the United Kingdom’s air power.
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