On Friday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran claimed it shot down a second US F-35 stealth fighter jet over central Iran, providing images of wreckage as evidence. The Pentagon has yet to confirm this incident, and analysts have raised doubts about the aircraft's identity, suggesting it may instead be an F-15E Strike Eagle due to discrepancies in the wreckage's paint scheme. The IRGC stated that the aircraft was hit by its new air defense system, and they indicated that the pilot likely did not survive the crash due to the explosion upon impact. This incident comes amid escalating military exchanges between the US, Israel, and Iran, with Iranian authorities reporting significant casualties from US and Israeli air operations. The F-35, considered one of the most advanced fighter jets, has faced scrutiny over its vulnerability, especially following previous incidents where US jets were reportedly targeted by Iranian defenses. The F-35 program has cost approximately $450 billion, raising concerns about the effectiveness of air defense systems against such advanced aircraft.