'Sky ghost' hit: What F-35's first combat damage reveals

The first confirmed combat damage to a US F-35 from enemy fire has sent shockwaves through the defense community. On March 19, a US Air Force F-35A made an emergency landing after a mission over Iran, with US Central Command confirming the incident is under investigation. Iranian media released footage claiming to show the hit via an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor.

Chinese military expert Wei Dongxu, speaking to China Media Group, offered a tactical analysis. He suggested Iranian forces used a "wait-and-ambush" strategy, capitalizing on predictable US flight patterns.

"When the F-35 flew at low altitude, its engine heat signature was captured by optical sensors on mobile air defense vehicles," Wei explained. "It was then engaged by short-to-medium-range missiles." He noted that such low-altitude strikes may leave no time for the pilot to deploy flares.

As noted by experts at The War Zone and SCMP, EO/IR systems are passive, emitting no radar signals. This means aircraft have no warning of an incoming missile – a critical vulnerability for stealth fighters designed to evade radar, not infrared detection.

This was not an isolated precedent. US officials previously told The War Zone that Houthi forces in Yemen had already forced an F-35 to take evasive maneuvers against surface-to-air missiles, proving that even less sophisticated adversaries pose a threat. The Times of Israel reported that an Israeli F-35 was "almost shot down" over Iran in the early stages of the conflict, an incident the Israel Defense Forces attributed to pilot skill rather than the aircraft's stealth.

Taken together, these points challenge the narrative of the F-35 as an invulnerable "sky ghost." While the US maintains air superiority, the incident underscores that passive infrared threats, mobile launchers and deeper combat missions into Iran all increase risks. As Wei concluded, for US allies operating the F-35, this raises serious questions about its survivability in high-end conflicts.