Live updates: One pilot rescued, one still missing after U.S. fighter (F-15) jet shot down over Iran, officials say

[robosmith]

Live updates: One pilot rescued, one still missing after U.S. fighter (F-15) jet shot down over Iran, officials say

Quote

• U.S. FIGHTER JET SHOT DOWN OVER IRAN: A search was underway Friday after a two-seat F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran. One of the F-15 pilots on the downed jet was rescued and is alive, a U.S. official told NBC News.

 

[John Stone]

 

Iran reportedly signed a secret arms deal with Russia to acquire thousands of advanced manpad missies to boost its air defense. 

Supposedly the 800 million agreement was signed  in December.

Russia has agree to deliver 2-designs;  the 'Verba' and the '9M336'

The Verba has been described by experts as one of Russia's most advanced air defence systems - capable of targeting low-flying aircraft, choppers, cruise missiles and drones. 

Akin to the U.S. Stinger which swept the skies of Afghanistan during the Russian tenure and so drastically affected the calculus in ground attack. 

Gotta wonder if this shoot down had Russia's signature. 

Edited April 3 by John Stone

[John Johnston]

2 hours ago, John Stone said:

 

Iran reportedly signed a secret arms deal with Russia to acquire thousands of advanced manpad missies to boost its air defense. 

Supposedly the 800 million agreement was signed  in December.

Russia has agree to deliver 2-designs;  the 'Verba' and the '9M336'

The Verba has been described by experts as one of Russia's most advanced air defence systems - capable of targeting low-flying aircraft, choppers, cruise missiles and drones. 

Akin to the U.S. Stinger which swept the skies of Afghanistan during the Russian tenure and so drastically affected the calculus in ground attack. 

Gotta wonder if this shoot down had Russia's signature. 

Hmm. This "Excursion" could very well last years if this is the case. 

[robosmith]

Second U.S. Plane Reportedly Crashes In Persian Gulf—After Iran Shot Down Jet

A-10s are supposed to be really rugged  and well protected

Quote

A second U.S. Air Force plane crashed in the Persian Gulf on Friday, unnamed U.S. officials told the New York Times, in addition to a fighter jet shot down by Iran, though it’s unclear why or how the second crash happened.

Iranian state media said early Friday it shot down a U.S. fighter jet. (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

Key Facts

An A-10 Warthog attack plane crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, the Times reported, and its pilot was safely rescued, though other details about the crash are unclear.

The A-10 crash occurred around the same time as the previously reported F-15E jet was shot down by Iran, according to the Times.

 

 

[John Stone]

14 hours ago, John Johnston said:

Hmm. This "Excursion" could very well last years if this is the case. 

SAM batteries require exotic detection, tracking and illumination radar systems. Although mobile they are extremely vulnerable when radiating ........ wild weasels would be the lure to destroy them - easily. 

The man-pad is totally different in that it is shoulder fired and forget ......... extremely deadly to low attitude ground attack a/c or choppers. 

Def changes the calculus. 

Agree - Russia is leaning into this .............  intel sucks. 

11 hours ago, robosmith said:

Second U.S. Plane Reportedly Crashes In Persian Gulf—After Iran Shot Down Jet

A-10s are supposed to be really rugged  and well protected

 

 

The A-10 is  primarily ground attack  - sitting duck for anything akin to a stinger. 

[John Johnston]

 Thought Call of Duty Pete would have known this could be the case...

[West]

Safe and sound. Dems can put down the pom poms and noise makers. They lose again

[robosmith]

56 minutes ago, West said:

Safe and sound. Dems can put down the pom poms and noise makers. They lose again

Both you and Trump ARE LIARS.

Congrats to our airmen for their success in rescuing the 2nd airman who was shot down despite Trump's BRAZEN LIE that Iran's anti-aircraft weapons were decimated.

Edited April 5 by robosmith

[West]

12 minutes ago, robosmith said:

Both you and Trump ARE LIARS.

Congrats to our airmen for their success in rescuing the 2nd airman who was shot down despite Trump's BRAZEN LIE that Iran's anti-aircraft weapons were decimated.

Iran is going out with a wimper

[bush_cheney2004]

1 hour ago, West said:

Safe and sound. Dems can put down the pom poms and noise makers. They lose again

 

Right....Democrats celebrated when Captain Scott O'Grady was rescued by Marines after being shot down in 1995 (Clinton - Bosnian War).  Happened again in 1999 (Clinton - Kosovo War). Let's see how they play this turn of events without wishing more harm to U.S. and allied military just to get at Trump.

[robosmith]

1 hour ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

 

Right....Democrats celebrated when Captain Scott O'Grady was rescued by Marines after being shot down in 1995 (Clinton - Bosnian War).  Happened again in 1999 (Clinton - Kosovo War). Let's see how they play this turn of events without wishing more harm to U.S. and allied military just to get at Trump.

Trump is "getting at" himself via the incompetence that failed to plan for Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz.

Maybe you're happy that gas prices have skyrocketed, but I can assure you NO ONE ELSE IS except OIL COMPANY EXECS.

[CdnFox]

On 4/3/2026 at 12:02 PM, John Stone said:

 

Iran reportedly signed a secret arms deal with Russia to acquire thousands of advanced manpad missies to boost its air defense. 

Supposedly the 800 million agreement was signed  in December.

Russia has agree to deliver 2-designs;  the 'Verba' and the '9M336'

The Verba has been described by experts as one of Russia's most advanced air defence systems - capable of targeting low-flying aircraft, choppers, cruise missiles and drones. 

Akin to the U.S. Stinger which swept the skies of Afghanistan during the Russian tenure and so drastically affected the calculus in ground attack. 

Gotta wonder if this shoot down had Russia's signature. 

Sounds like bullshit. If anything arms have been flowing in the other direction. I need to see some pretty compelling evidence of that, facebook simply isn't reliable source of military intelligence  

[CdnFox]

Great news about the second pilot for sure! I have little doubt the dems are upset that they  "Missed" an opportunity to cry fake tears and attack the president, but i suspect even many of their supporters are happy about this ending. 

IT's a war. Sometimes the bad guys are going to have a good day too. I doubt we've seen the last casualty, but hopefully we'll see more stories like this than bad ones. 

[User]

3 hours ago, robosmith said:

Both you and Trump ARE LIARS.

Congrats to our airmen for their success in rescuing the 2nd airman who was shot down despite Trump's BRAZEN LIE that Iran's anti-aircraft weapons were decimated.

You were the kid who cried that your dad was a liar because he promised to come to your little league game but he got stuck in traffic due to no fault of his own. 30 years later you still call him a liar.

 

[John Stone]

4 hours ago, CdnFox said:

Sounds like bullshit. If anything arms have been flowing in the other direction. I need to see some pretty compelling evidence of that, facebook simply isn't reliable source of military intelligence  

ha ha ......... nice try! 

Sorry don't do other's homework. 

 

[paxamericana]

On 4/3/2026 at 2:02 PM, John Stone said:

Gotta wonder if this shoot down had Russia's signature. 

Or chinese

[paxamericana]

6 hours ago, West said:

Iran is going out with a wimper

It’s a good time to mop the floor. Cuba, Venezuela and now Iran. Trump is doing something the greatest generation didn’t do, finish the job. General Patton was right, should have destroyed the Soviets. We wouldn’t be here cleaning the left over mess the axis of evil Russia and China created. You want a peace dividend? Don’t leave unfinished business.

Edited April 5 by paxamericana

[John Stone]

2 minutes ago, paxamericana said:

Or chinese

.............. arguably we will never know based on forensics - my money is on the Russians due to recent Russo-Persian purchases of manpads. 

That said, Iran does possess a much-less capable man-pad. A knockoff of a Chinese  design. 

Imagine the uproar if it was revealed that Russia had provided the platform that took down U.S. a/c? OMG! 

laughable to think Trump believes Putin respects him - it has been suggested Trump  replace his elbow and knee pads post, US-Russo summits. 

 

[paxamericana]

8 minutes ago, John Stone said:

money is on the Russians due to recent Russo-Persian purchases of manpads. 

I don’t think it’s manpad. The eagle can out range those. But let’s not forget the venerable A-10. Took hit and still flew out of the hostile airspace across the straight. 

Edited April 5 by paxamericana

[John Stone]

10 minutes ago, paxamericana said:

I don’t think it’s manpad. The eagle can out range those. But let’s not forget the venerable A-10. Took hits and stilled flew out of the hostile airspace across the straight. 

If my strategy was asymmetrical I would luv latest manpad  - programmable  - infrared targeting. 

Depending on range and maneuverability there is no defense for ground attack a/c/

pop up, shoot, disappear.  

Rotary wing (any) go home to mommy! 

High flying platforms are immune - but not to AA STIR - that is where the wild weasel is employed - to use fire control,  air superiority is de rigueur. 

This is where INTEL is so important - the U.S believed they had absolute air superiority. 

Edited April 5 by John Stone

[John Stone]

Congrats on the rescue - well done to U.S. SAR / military.

Worst part is listening to Trump .....?

Would someone please tell that bombastic, ignorant fool that there is no "I' in TEAM? 

[paxamericana]

1 hour ago, John Stone said:

absolute air superiority.

That only exist for a span of time. It’s never an indefinite period. As soon as the enemy resupply, the danger zone returns. That said, for the type of munition that can endanger high flyer, it requires a long logistic tail,  rail, ship or truck to get to where it needs to go. The question becomes, where are the supply routes and can they get enough of it to matter. Quantity is a quality in of itself. A few jets downed isn’t going to stop America. 

Edited April 5 by paxamericana

[paxamericana]

1 hour ago, John Stone said:

bombastic…Trump

It comes with the territory. See you don’t get a president willing to go against popular sentiment and take risks without the personality trait it comes with.

Greatest presidential president ever!

Edited April 5 by paxamericana

[John Stone]

7 minutes ago, paxamericana said:

That only exist for a span of time. It’s never an indefinite period. As soon as the enemy resupply, the danger zone returns. That said, for the type of munition that can endanger high flyer, it requires a long logistic tail,  rail, ship or truck to get to where it needs to go. The question becomes, where are the supply routes and can they get enough of it to matter. Quantity is a quality in of itself. A few jets downed isn’t going to stop America. 

Man portable AA is an infantry weapon................. incredible defense against ground attack. 

High fliers ur talking about are akin to the B52 - truly  awesome - but vulnerable to AA batteries. 

To employ heavy bombers u need to scour for these AA batteries and either destroy them on detection (emission) or avoid the missile on launch (hard or soft kill). The AA missile is either fire/forget or a beam  rider (illumination).

During the Vietnam War heavy bombers were in constant peril over populated areas of North Vietnam. 

The U.S. if fighting a war on (2) fronts  - the  political and the military.

Imagine several  U.S. air assault shot downs by Iran - imagine the blowback.

The problem remains that this is a war of choice - with global implications.

It was sprung on the American public. 

Trump  is a great 'war leader', the problem is that he is at war-leader against  at least  half of the American population. He is not a unifying leader, neither does he want to be............ he can't be, Trump doesn't  know how to be. 

Trump's strength is partisan, division? 

And that is how he  want to lead the Nation.  

 

[John Stone]

12 minutes ago, paxamericana said:

It comes with the territory. See you don’t get a president willing to go against popular sentiment and take risks without the personality trait it comes with.

Greatest presidential president ever!

I respect ur opinion  .................. the same was said about great historical failures as well.