The kill, scored towards a missile doubtless launched from Yemen, is the primary interception of this type by the fifth gen fighter.

The Israeli Air Pressure disclosed right this moment that considered one of its F-35I Adir fighters just lately shot down a cruise missile which was about to enter Israeli airspace from the southwest. The cruise missile, presumably launched from Yemen, was detected and tracked by the air protection as F-35Is have been scrambled to intercept it, scoring the primary cruise missile kill by the fifth era fighter.

בימים האחרונים זוהה על ידי מערכות הבקרה והגילוי של חיל-האוויר, טיל שיוט, ששוגר מדרום מזרח אל עבר המרחב האווירי של מדינת ישראל. המערכות עקבו אחרי מסלולו של טיל השיוט והזניקו מטוסי קרב ממערך ה״אדיר״, אשר יירטו אותו בהצלחה. pic.twitter.com/6fP6TnlpTm

— Israeli Air Pressure (@IAFsite) November 2, 2023

The IAF didn’t launch different particulars, nonetheless in a publish on X (previously Twitter) launched a video recorded both by the helmet mounted show or the Electro-Optical Concentrating on System (EOTS). The video reveals a jet powered (notice the white sizzling space within the video the place the engine can be) cruise missile with brief wings, much like ones utilized by the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

The F-35 launched a missile on the drone, which burst in flames, however it’s not potential to discern if the Adir employed an AIM-9X Sidewinder or an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Each missiles have already been used towards related small targets corresponding to UAVs, so they’re each a viable possibility. Additionally, final yr the F-35I scored the primary air-to-air kill taking pictures down a drone with considered one of these missiles.

Prior to now america examined the F-35 in situations simulating anti-ballistic missile and anti-cruise missile protection, typically along side THAAD and Patriot batteries and Navy ships geared up with the AEGIS system. This, nonetheless, is the primary dwell interception reported of a cruise missile by the F-35.

Stefano D’Urso is a contract journalist and contributor to TheAviationist primarily based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he is additionally learning to attain a Grasp Diploma in Aerospace Engineering. Digital Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT strategies utilized to the world of army operations and present conflicts are amongst his areas of experience.