Iran Used Drone-Guided Missile to Down U.S. F-15E in 2026, NYT Reports
In April 2026, Iran shot down a U.S. F-15E jet using a shoulder-fired missile, reportedly aided by drones that fed the aircraft's GPS coordinates, speed, and direction to commanders. The crew had only half a second of warning before the $60 million aircraft was hit.
Iranian forces reportedly adapted drone-based targeting tactics seen in Ukraine to bring down the jet. Drones provided real-time data on the F-15E's location, speed, and direction to Iranian commanders, enabling a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile to lock on successfully.
The crew received only about half a second of warning before impact, leaving no time to evade. The loss of the $60 million aircraft marks a rare downing of a U.S. combat jet and highlights the growing threat of low-cost, high-precision air defense systems.
The incident, reported by the New York Times, may intensify scrutiny of military support programs and regional security dynamics, though immediate market reactions were unclear.
Source: First Squawk