Iran may have used Chinese missile to shoot down U.S. fighter jet: NBC News
U.S. officials say the jet was hit by a Chinese-made shoulder-launched missile as investigators examine whether Beijing supplied air defenses to Tehran.
- An American F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over southwestern Iran last month, likely struck by a Chinese-made shoulder-launched missile, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.
- Beijing has reportedly supplied Tehran with "man-portable air defense weapons," or "Manpads," to test U.S. attention during the ongoing conflict, despite public denials of military support.
- The two-man crew safely ejected from the aircraft, though the weapons systems officer spent two days hiding in the Zagros Mountains before rescue; this marks the first time in decades a U.S. fighter was downed by enemy fire.
- President Trump cited assurances from President Xi that China is "not sending any weapons to Iran," while a Chinese Embassy spokesperson claimed the country "acts prudently and responsibly" regarding military exports.
- The "CRINK axis" of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea represents what geopolitical analysts view as a critical alliance seeking to undermine global order as Beijing secures energy supplies from the Middle East.
33 Articles
33 Articles
US fighter jet downed over Iran may have been struck by Chinese missile: Report
The F-15E Strike Eagle was reportedly struck by a Chinese-made weapon while flying over southwestern Iran in April. US officials are still examining the exact circumstances surrounding the shootdown.
Shoulder-launched missile used to down US jet over Iran was likely Chinese
Washington - The shoulder-launched missile used to down the F-15 fighter jet over southwest Iran last month was likely made by China, NBC reports, citing three people with knowledge of the matter.
The downing of the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was reportedly carried out by a shoulder-launched MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) launcher, considered particularly dangerous to low-flying aircraft. It was the first American fighter jet shot down by enemy fire in decades. One of the pilots was rescued that same day. Two days later, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the successful conclusion of a special operation during which a s…
How a Chinese-origin missile may have helped Iran down a US F-15E Strike Eagle
Last month, a F-15E Strike Eagle of the US military crashed in Iran after being shot down by the Iranian forces. The incident forced the Americans to launch an operation, dubbed 'daring' by President Donald Trump, to rescue the two crew members. The operation lasted for nearly two days before the pilot and the weapons system officer (WSO), who was a Colonel-rank officer, were rescued from the "treacherous mountains" of Iran, while they were bei…
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