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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it destroyed three US F-35 stealth fighter jets at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan during retaliatory missile strikes, after US-Iran hostilities resumed following a temporary pause.
The United States rejected Iran's claim.
The F-35 Lightning II, built by Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation stealth multirole aircraft available in three variants — F-35A (conventional), F-35B (short takeoff/vertical landing), and F-35C (carrier-based).
The F-35 is used by the US and allies including the UK, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, and is considered central to modern air superiority and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) missions.
| Variant | Purpose |
|---|---|
| F-35A | Conventional takeoff/landing — Air Force |
| F-35B | Short takeoff, vertical landing — Marine Corps |
| F-35C | Carrier-based — Navy |
The F-35 combines stealth technology (reduced radar visibility), advanced sensor fusion (combining data from multiple sensors into one simplified display), and network-centric warfare capability (real-time data sharing with other aircraft and command centres).
Simple Analogy: A fighter jet that's hard to see on radar, gives the pilot a unified 'god's-eye' view of the battlespace, and constantly shares that view with allied forces.
GS Paper III > Defence Technology; GS Paper II > West Asia
Defence GK > Fighter Aircraft
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of Iran's Armed Forces