United States F-35A Fleet Update

A United States Air Force F-35A Lightning II sustained combat damage over Iran on March 19, 2026, after being hit by a suspected surface-to-air missile during a strike mission. The pilot suffered shrapnel wounds but managed to fly the damaged aircraft to an emergency landing at an undisclosed U.S. base in the Middle East. This marked the first confirmed instance of an F-35 sustaining combat damage in the type operational history. The aircraft was assessed for structural damage following landing. The incident highlighted the threat posed by Iranian integrated air defense systems during Operation Epic Fury.

Source: cnn.com