First combat kill for RAF F-35 pilot
A Royal Air Force pilot launched from Cyprus made history after he intercepted and destroyed two Iranian-made drones during a mission over Jordan.
According to a report by The Guardian, the pilot had been flying for four hours in a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II alongside two Eurofighter Typhoon jets when the aircraft’s radar detected two Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles.
The RAF pilot intercepted drone targets by launching two ASRAAM missiles, successfully destroying both aircraft. The incident marks the first time a British pilot has shot down a target in real combat conditions using the stealth F-35 fighter jet.
High-risk identification before opening fire
The pilot described the operation as particularly high risk, explaining that identifying the correct target was crucial in a crowded operational environment.
“There are many assets from the US and Israel moving to and from the operational area,” he said. “My main concern was confirming exactly what the target was before opening fire.”
There was sufficient time, he explained, to cross-check radar data between his aircraft and the two Typhoon fighters flying alongside him before launching the missiles that allowed the RAF pilot to intercept the drone threats safely.
After the drones were destroyed, the pilot immediately repositioned the aircraft to scan for additional threats.
“What concerns you most is making sure you hit the correct target and that the aircraft is in the right position,” he said. “There is no feeling of euphoria. You simply move away and continue the job.”
Launch from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus
The aircraft had taken off from RAF Akrotiri, the British military base in Cyprus that was targeted by a drone strike the previous evening.
Military assessments suggest the drone that hit the base was likely launched by the pro-Iranian group Hezbollah from Lebanon and was believed to be targeting a hangar housing US reconnaissance aircraft.
The attack is viewed as part of a wider cycle of retaliatory actions following recent US and Israeli strikes against Iran.
Small drones difficult to intercept
The drone that managed to reach the base is believed to have evaded air defence systems because of its small size and low speed- features that make such aircraft particularly difficult to detect.
“They are so small and difficult to spot that we cannot know if there are more in the area,” the pilot explained.
“When you turn your aircraft to intercept them, you simultaneously stop monitoring the direction from which others might be approaching.”
However, the drones he destroyed appeared to be different from the one that struck the base a day earlier, which could indicate a different origin or operator.
Quiet celebration with Cypriot beer
After returning to base in the early hours of the morning, the pilots quietly marked the moment.
The RAF pilot who intercepted drone targets during the mission said the crew shared a modest celebration after landing.
“We had a beer at sunrise and then I had to go to sleep because I was on duty again the next day,” he said.
“At the moment we are operating at a very high tempo. When all of this is over- whenever that may be- I am sure we will celebrate properly.”
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