UPDATED: Iran Shoots Down F-15; Iran Offering Reward for Pilotshttps://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/04/03/report-iran-shoots-down-f-15-n3813551Well, this isn't good. It appears that Iran got a lucky shot in and took down what appears to be an F-15.
Reports are still murky, but the evidence that Iran succeeded in downing an F-15 is growing, and Axios appears to have broken the story.
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As with all things breaking, X is filled with speculation, but also evidence. There are what appear to be major rescue operations ongoing in southern Iran, including low-flying helicopters in dangerous territory.
This is a significant loss, obviously.
In the context of the past 5 weeks, the US has been flying B-52s, B-1s, F-15Es, and F/A-18E/Fs in Iranian airspace for 4 weeks or more, and A-10Cs for 2 or 4 weeks. B-52s and B-1s have the RCS and IR visibility of a bull African elephant. F-15Es and F/A-18E/Fs have the RCS and IR visibility of a black rhino. And A-10Cs are Warthogs. In context, what is remarkable and indicative of how things stand is that this is Iran's first shootdown.
ETA: Apparently, one pilot has been found and rescued,
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892001 .