Does Iran have the ability to track and target US F-35 fighters?

Amid the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, one of the claims made by Iran was that it had downed an F-35 belonging to Israel. The claim didn't get much attention, as Iran couldn't provide any evidence in this regard.

Even Israel pooh-poohed Iran's claim, with its Persian accounting trolling Iran: "Why haven't you released the pictures of our captured pilots yet? We are very worried." 

But that triggered questions on whether or not Iran possesses the capability to track and target F-35 supersonic stealth fighters. 

Professor Justin Brank, a researcher on air power and technology at the British think tank the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told BBC Persian that such claims have no credibility given Iran's military capabilities. "Though Iran had used some radars, such as the Russian Nebo-M system, to increase the likelihood of detecting F-35 fighters and other stealth aircraft, it did not have the technical ability to track stealth fighters like the F-35, let alone engage them. This was in a situation where most of its air defence radars and long-range missile systems were quickly destroyed at the beginning of the conflict," Brank added.

Despite Iran claiming to have developed anti-aircraft missiles in recent years, a report by the US Department of Defence Intelligence Agency has cast doubts about the effectiveness of these systems. 

That said, in an incident that shook the US, a Houthi surface-to-air (SAM) missile almost downed an F-35 during the former's Operation Rough Rider against the Houthis. The jet had to take evasive action to avoid the missile, sending shivers down the US Navy as the fifth-generation fighter is considered the crown jewel of the US fighter inventory. 

At that time, it was justified that the Houthis had a rudimentary air defence system, which is highly mobile. They are very simple that it helps them avoid earlier detection by the US's advanced equipment. "Many of the [SAMs] are also improvised, leveraging non-traditional passive infrared sensors and jury-rigged air-to-air missiles that provide little to no early warning of a threat, let alone an incoming attack,” The War Zone reported. 

 

Middle East