RAF F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets Just Scored Their First-Ever Combat Kill

British F-35s shot down drones over Jordan, marking the primary time that one of many Royal Air Pressure’s stealth fighter jets has destroyed a goal in fight, the UK protection ministry mentioned on Tuesday.

British forces have shot down a number of drones throughout the Center East over the previous 24 hours as Iran continues to retaliate in opposition to international locations throughout the area in response to US and Israeli strikes.

The UK mentioned that the interception of drones above Jordan marks “the primary time an RAF F-35 has destroyed a goal on operations.” The fighters have been supported by Typhoon jets and a Voyager tanker aircraft.

The F-35B jets the UK operates are designed for air-to-air, air-to-surface, and digital warfare missions. They’ve brief takeoff and vertical touchdown capabilities that enable the fighter jet to function from austere environments, amphibious assault ships, and plane carriers.

The UK obtained its F-35 jets, manufactured by the American protection big Lockheed Martin, in 2012. The stealth fighters reached preliminary operational functionality standing in 2018.

The UK just lately deployed further defensive belongings to its bases in Cyprus, together with F-35 jets, radars, counter-drone techniques, and ground-based air defenses, amid the hovering tensions within the Center East.

Over the previous day, British counter-drone forces have additionally intercepted hostile drones in Iraqi airspace, and an RAF Hurricane fighter plane used an air-to-air missile to down an Iranian drone heading for Qatar.

Because the combating started, Iran has launched tons of of ballistic and cruise missiles and one-way assault drones at many Center Japanese international locations, together with the Gulf States and Israel, in addition to bases for US forces throughout the area. A strike on an American navy set up killed at least six service members and wounded a number of others.

British bases have additionally been hit in this conflict, by which the UK isn’t offensively concerned. A UK protection ministry spokesperson mentioned on Monday {that a} suspected drone had struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. There have been no casualties, however the incident has triggered a response in London.

On Tuesday, the UK introduced that it’s deploying the Sort 45 destroyer HMS Dragon and Wildcat helicopters to the Eastern Mediterranean region to strengthen Britain’s missile and drone protection.

“We’re shifting shortly to additional reinforce our defensive presence within the Japanese Mediterranean,” Protection Secretary John Healey mentioned. “HMS Dragon brings world-class air protection functionality, and our Wildcat helicopters are armed with Martlet missiles to counter the rising drone menace.”

The Center East has been locked in air defense battles because the US and Israel began putting Iran on Saturday. Washington and its allies within the area have shot down tons of of Iranian retaliatory missiles and drones over the previous three days.