Iran Claims Strike on U.S. F-35 as Pentagon Confirms Emergency Landing

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck and “seriously damaged” a U.S. F-35 fighter jet over central Iran, while U.S. officials confirmed that an F-35 made an emergency landing at a regional air base after being hit by hostile fire. The U.S. military said the aircraft landed safely and the pilot is in stable condition, with the incident under investigation.

• IRGC stated the strike occurred around 2:50 a.m. local time, claiming the jet was hit by Iranian air defense systems.
• Iranian officials said the aircraft’s fate remains unclear and is under investigation, with a possible crash not ruled out.
• U.S. Central Command confirmed the F-35 was on a combat mission over Iran when it sustained damage and diverted to a base in the Middle East.
• The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot was reported to be in stable condition.
• Iran linked the incident to broader operations, including intercepting over 125 U.S.- and Israeli-linked drones.
• The event follows escalating regional conflict after a joint U.S.-Israel offensive launched on Feb. 28.

Relevant Companies

• Lockheed Martin ($LMT) – Manufacturer of the F-35 fighter jet; developments may impact defense demand and program visibility.
• RTX Corporation ($RTX) – Supplies key avionics and systems for U.S. military aircraft and missile defense systems.
• Northrop Grumman ($NOC) – Involved in advanced defense systems and components used in U.S. military aircraft.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.