F-35 Combat Record: Where the Stealth Fighter Has Fought

The F-35 has been in combat since 2018, flown by Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom over Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. No F-35 has been lost to enemy action, though one US jet was damaged over Iran in March 2026.

For most of that time it was used against opponents with little or no air defence. The wars with Iran in 2025 and 2026 were the first real test against a country with modern radars and missiles, and they produced the type’s first kill of a crewed aircraft. This guide sets out the F-35 combat record so far.

When was the F-35 first used in combat?

Israel was first. On 22 May 2018 the commander of the Israeli Air Force said its F-35I jets had already struck targets on two fronts, the first combat use of the type by anyone. Israel has not given details of those missions, which are believed to have been against Iranian-linked targets in Syria.

The United States followed within months. On 27 September 2018 Marine Corps F-35Bs flying from the assault ship USS Essex bombed a Taliban position in Afghanistan. US Air Force F-35As flew their first combat mission on 30 April 2019, hitting an Islamic State tunnel complex in Iraq with guided bombs. British F-35Bs flew operational sorties over Iraq and Syria from Cyprus in June 2019.

How has Israel used the F-35?

More than anyone else. Israel’s F-35I fleet has flown in every campaign the country has fought since 2018: strikes in Syria, the war in Gaza from October 2023, operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, long-range raids on Yemen and the direct exchanges with Iran.

The Iran missions are the most significant. In October 2024 and again in the twelve-day war of June 2025, Israeli aircraft flew round trips of about 3,000 km to attack air defences, missile sites and nuclear facilities. Israel says its F-35s led the attacks on air defence radars and that it lost no crewed aircraft. The June 2025 campaign needed 550 aerial refuellings in its first six days, The Aviationist has reported, which is why Israel is now developing external tanks, as covered in how long an F-35 can stay in the air.

How has the United States used the F-35 in combat?

Until 2025 mostly for strikes against militant groups and for patrols over the Gulf. That changed with Iran. On 22 June 2025, in the operation the Pentagon called Midnight Hammer, F-35As flew ahead of B-2 bombers into Iranian airspace to deal with air defences during the attack on the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites.

In January 2026 F-35s were among the aircraft used in US strikes in Venezuela. Then, from 28 February 2026, they took part in Operation Epic Fury, the US air campaign against Iran. On 19 March one made an emergency landing at a base in the region after it was reportedly struck by Iranian fire. US Central Command said the aircraft landed safely, the pilot was in stable condition and the incident was under investigation. It is the only known case of an F-35 being damaged by an enemy.

Has the F-35 shot down other aircraft?

Yes, but its first victims were uncrewed. Israeli F-35Is destroyed two Iranian drones in March 2021 and a cruise missile fired from Yemen in 2023. In September 2025 Dutch F-35As shot down Russian drones that had crossed into Poland, the first time NATO aircraft had fired on Russian drones over allied territory.

The first crewed aircraft came on 4 March 2026. An Israeli F-35I detected an Iranian Yak-130 jet trainer over Tehran and destroyed it with a long-range missile. The Israeli Air Force commander said there had been no complicated air battle: the jet detected the target, closed and fired. It was Israel’s first kill of a crewed aircraft since 1985. The weapons involved are described in F-35 missiles.

What does the combat record show?

Three things. The aircraft has been able to operate inside the range of Iranian air defences, including Russian-made systems, repeatedly and with few losses. That supports the case made in how F-35 stealth works and F-35 electronic warfare. It has also been used far more as a bomber and a sensor than as a dogfighter.

The record also has limits. Iran’s air defences were degraded early in each campaign, and Iran’s air force is old. The March 2026 hit shows the jet can be reached. And no F-35 has yet faced a first-rate opponent with its own stealth fighters and modern long-range missiles. An overview of the aircraft is in what the F-35 is.

Frequently asked questions

Has the F-35 been used in combat?

Yes, since 2018. Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom have all flown it in combat.

Has an F-35 ever been shot down?

No F-35 has been lost to enemy action. One US F-35 was damaged over Iran on 19 March 2026 and landed safely.

Has the F-35 shot down an enemy aircraft?

Yes. An Israeli F-35I shot down an Iranian Yak-130 on 4 March 2026. F-35s had earlier destroyed drones and a cruise missile.

Which country first used the F-35 in combat?

Israel, which announced its first combat missions in May 2018.

Did F-35s take part in the strikes on Iran?

Yes. Israeli F-35Is flew in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 campaigns, and US F-35s took part in Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025 and Operation Epic Fury in 2026.

Has the F-35 fought another stealth fighter?

No. It has not yet met an opponent with fifth-generation aircraft.