Iran Shoots Down U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle
In a first ever confirmed combat loss of USAF aircraft inside Iran in the ongoing Iran - USA/Israel war, Iran has shot down a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle, a twin seater fighter jet. Early on April 3, 2026; in a major escalation in the five-week-old U.S.-Iran conflict, Iranian forces shot down a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet over Iranian territory. U.S. officials have confirmed the incident, and have confirmed that a high-stakes search-and-rescue operation is underway. Reports came to light when on April 3, 2026, Iranian state media, including outlets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced that Iranian air defenses had downed an American fighter jet. They released photos and videos purporting to show wreckage, including identifiable parts like a tail fin consistent with an F-15E Strike Eagle. F-15E Strike Eagle Is a two-seat strike fighter flown by a pilot and weapons systems officer. A combat search-and-rescue ...