--- title: "Watch the F-35 score its first air-to-air kills" date: "2022-03-08" modified: "2022-03-08" authors: - name: "Miguel Ortiz" job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/miguelortiz/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/watch-the-f-35-score-its-first-air-to-air-kills/" categories: - "Air Force" - "Aircraft" - "History" - "Tactical" --- # Watch the F-35 score its first air-to-air kills ![]() The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter has been plagued with controversy and growing pains throughout its development and operational fielding. However, the controversial stealth fighter has seen widespread adoption and fielding by the United States and its allies around the world. One of the most enthusiastic adopters of the F-35 is the Israeli Air Force. Israeli F-35s were the first to see combat in 2018. On March 7, 2022, the Israeli Defense Forces declassified a report and footage of the F-35 scoring its first air-to-air kills. "On March 15, 2021, two Iranian UAVs attempted to infiltrate Israel," the previously classified IDF report states. "The Israeli Air Force successfully intercepted these UAVs using a F-35I “Adir” fighter jet." According to the IDF, the drones were carrying weapons en route to the Gaza Strip. The footage released by the IDF is from the F-35's point of view and begins with the pilot making visual contact with the first drone. In contact with a controller, the pilot receives permission to fire on the drone. Cleared to shoot, he launches a missile which connects with the drone and destroys it. ![Two military fighter jets flying above the clouds against a clear blue sky. The jet on the left is gray with a sleek, angular design, while the jet on the right has a tan and green camouflage pattern with visible markings and armaments.]() **An Israeli F-35I flies with an F-16I (Israeli Air Force)** The IDF footage continues with a second intercept by a different F-35. It begins with a controller confirming the pilot’s identification of the drone and its triangular wing. The pilot, who presumably already received permission to engage, fires a missile which makes impact and the video ends with the destruction of the second drone. ![A dark gray stealth fighter jet flying against a clear blue sky, featuring angular wings and tail fins with Israeli Air Force roundels visible on the fuselage and wings.]() **Israeli F-35s were the first to see combat and are the first to score air-to-air kills (Israeli Air Force)** While not as glamorous as a dogfight with a piloted aircraft, drone intercepts still require great skill and precision. Smaller UAVs, like the ones shot down by the Israeli F-35s, are more difficult to acquire both visually and with radar and can be just as difficult to secure a lock onto. With its first aerial kills under its belt, the F-35 continues its fight to prove itself on the modern battlefield. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdSFEpqwA6Q ## Author Miguel Ortiz is a Senior Contributor for We Are The Mighty covering primarily military news and history with an emphasis on weapons technology. He is a former active duty Army officer and remains a member of the Army IRR. After commissioning through San Diego State University Army ROTC, Miguel served with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. He has written for We Are The Mighty since 2020, drawing from his passion for the military community and history. Miguel’s work has also been seen on Business Insider and The Blast. He remains an avid shooter, competing in local USPSA matches. Miguel’s other hobbies are traveling and watch collecting. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]()