All articles tagged with #yak 130
Israel says its F-35I Adir shot down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran, marking the first time the stealth jet downed a manned fighter in combat; the IDF released footage and praised the pilots as part of Operation Roaring Lion.
Israel says its F-35I Adir shot down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran on March 4, 2026—the world’s first downing of a manned fighter by an F-35—with a video released on March 5; the Yak-130, used by IRIAF for training and light attack, was reportedly involved in counter-drone operations amid ongoing air campaigns against Iran.
Israel’s F-35I Adir reportedly shot down a Russian-made Yak-130 in what the IDF calls the first confirmed air-to-air kill by an F-35. The Yak-130 is an advanced trainer/attack aircraft, and Israel notes its last aerial kill was in 1985. The incident comes amid broader clashes involving Iranian jets, and is complemented by a separate RAF F-35 downing of an Iranian drone, underscoring Western air superiority in the region.
Iran has reportedly received subsonic Yak-130 trainer jets from Russia, although these are not the Su-35 Flanker fighter jets they had hoped for. The delivery of the Yak-130s may indicate that Russia will eventually deliver the Su-35s in the future. Iran had expressed optimism about receiving the Su-35s earlier this year, but reports suggest that Russia has not fulfilled its end of the deal. The Yak-130 delivery suggests that Russia is at least delivering something to Iran after the military equipment Tehran has supplied Moscow. The Yak-130 trainers may serve as a stepping stone before acquiring fourth-generation fighters like the Su-35.