​Welches iranische Luftverteidigungssystem auf F-35 abzielte – und warum Russland eindeutig beteiligt war

Did the pilot eject

Is this like once they figure out how to detect it subsequent detections become easier or is it some thing like the brute force guessed an encryption key and now they just rotate the key?

It’s not even clear that this event actually happened. Iran is known to fake videos like this in the past. All we know for sure was an f-35 had to make an emergency landing. It’s entirely possible Iran faked the video to capitalize on that news to make it more believable. Though is also entirely possible that the video is legit. Neither of the governments involved are exactly known for telling the truth, so it’s hard to say.

Experts, military analysts, OSINT accounts, fact-checkers, and aviation specialists largely view the viral thermal/FLIR-style video (released by IRGC-linked sources around March 19, 2026) purporting to show an Iranian missile hitting a US F-35 over Iran as fake, manipulated, simulated, or outright propaganda — not genuine combat footage.

Visual and technical inconsistencies — Real IR/FLIR targeting footage of jets (especially F-35s) shows uneven heat signatures: hot engines/exhaust plumes dominate, while the airframe stays cooler with distinct patterns from surfaces/sensors. This video’s uniform bright outline (almost cartoonish) matches simulation artifacts from games like DCS World or Arma 3, not real sensors. No grain, thermal blooming, or camera shake typical of actual IR footage.

Unrealistic physics and reaction – A center-mass SAM hit on a modern fighter should trigger immediate countermeasures (flares/chaff – F-35 has advanced 360° AN/AAQ-37 DAS and dispensers), loss of control, breakup, debris trail, or rapid descent. Here, the jet flies straight/level post-„impact“ with no distress — impossible for a serious hit. Analysts note this echoes past debunked claims (e.g., Houthi/Iranian videos of „downed“ drones/jets).

The fact it managed to crash land is insane.

Alex Hollings from Sandboxx has a good [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEA-vXR3WgI) about this everyone should watch.

There’s a lot of misconceptions about stealth and the F-35 and Iranian air defense that’s helpful to know, and a lot of good analysis for what this all could mean.

Most importantly, we don’t yet know if any of this is real. All we know is USCENTCOM reported an F-35 had to make an emergency landing and the pilot was stable, and Iranian state media claims they have a video of them targeting an F-35. It could’ve been an IRST based missile, it could’ve not happened at all the way Iran claims.

Iranian state media is notoriously unreliable and makes stuff up all the time (remember the downed F-35I? or the captured delta force operators) and throws out deepfake videos all the time.

IRST systems are the new way to track stealth objects. The latest stealth efforts are in IR reduction. They have been trying out new coatings and skins and even the new B-21 seems designed to reduce its IR signature. The F-35s will have to adjust to the new reality.

Lmao people think that video is real lol. Not saying it wasn’t hit but the jet would not be glowing so uniformly on FLIR.

OK, so clearly the F-35 is no longer a threat. Everyone can come out from hiding now. No need to worry.

General Patton was right about Russia.

Everyone talking about IR missiles being hard to counter but there’s a simpler term – heat seeking missiles. IR signature = heat. Obviously you have to detect a lock – on (which isn’t new or hard) but countermeasures are as basic as they come – flares.

It’s okay, we have a special relationship with Russia

Makes the big assumption that the IRGC wouldn’t claim a regular military success as their own

Pretty sure stealth does not mean it’s 100% invisible to radar lol so yes something like this will happen from time to time. Plane was hit and still made it back and landed safely….