Israeli F-35 Achieves Historic First in Air-to-Air Combat An Israeli F-35I fighter jet confirmed its first ever air-to-air victory by downing an Iranian YAK-130 training aircraft during a combat engagement, marking a significant milestone in modern aerial warfare. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the achievement at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, describing it as the first fighter jet dogfight of the ongoing conflict. The incident occurred as part of broader Israeli military operations targeting Iranian military assets in the region. The Russian-made YAK-130, which entered production in the 1990s, is primarily used as an advanced training platform for pilots preparing to operate more sophisticated Russian fighters like the SU-57. However, it can also be configured for limited attack missions. The IDF’s strike on Sunday afternoon targeted Iranian fighter jets that were in the process of preparing to take off from an airfield. Two aircraft, an F-4 and an F-5, were already on the runway when Israeli forces launched an attack, destroying them before they could become operational. While Iran’s air force, including the F-4 and F-5 models, is largely outdated and considered inferior to Israel’s F-15, F-16, and F-35 fleets, the YAK-130 represents a more advanced threat. Iranian military analysts have noted that the YAK-130’s capabilities could complicate operations for Israeli and American drones, as it may pose a challenge to close-range “stand-in” attacks. Despite this, Israeli and U.S. forces have maintained air superiority in the Tehran area, allowing them to conduct prolonged surveillance and strike missions without significant interference. This marks the first confirmed air-to-air kill by an F-35 in its operational history.#israeli_defense_forces #f35i #iranian_yak130 #f4 #f5
