A US Air Force F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran by a shoulder-fired heat-seeking missile, President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday, marking the first such loss for a US F-15.
The Shootdown Incident
President Trump stated that the F-15E was struck by a Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS), describing it as a handheld, heat-seeking missile that hit the aircraft's engine. The incident occurred over the weekend, leading to the ejection of both the pilot and weapons system officer inside Iranian territory.
Rescue Operations and Additional Losses
A US rescue mission to retrieve the crew from deep within Iran resulted in further aircraft losses:
- One A-10 attack jet
- Two MC-130J Hercules special mission aircraft
- At least one helicopter These losses equate to hundreds of millions of dollars in assets, contrasting with the relatively low cost of the MANPADS missile.
MANPADS: Characteristics and Threats
MANPADS are portable, easy to transport and conceal, posing a significant challenge to low-flying aircraft. A US State Department fact sheet notes that launch tubes typically measure 4 to 6.5 feet in length, about 3 inches in diameter, and weigh between 28 to 55 pounds. Their proliferation makes them a persistent threat in conflict zones.
Iran's MANPADS Arsenal
According to the "Military Balance 2025" report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Iran's arsenal includes multiple MANPADS types:
- Soviet-era Strela missiles
- Russian Igla missiles
- Locally produced Misagh missiles The specific missile used in the F-15 shootdown has not been identified.