Loss of planes and face for US on Day 36. F-15 shot down, A-10 crashes, Blackhawk shot at

A series of aerial setbacks on Day 36 of the conflict has cast a shadow over United States claims of dominating Iranian skies, with multiple aircraft losses and damage reports emerging in quick succession. The developments suggest that Iran’s air defence systems remain far from neutralised , contrary to repeated assertions from Donald Trump and US officials.

The most serious incident involved the confirmed downing of a F-15E Strike Eagle over southwestern Iran. The aircraft, carrying two crew members, was struck during an operational mission, forcing both to eject. While one crew member has been rescued, the second remained unaccounted for at the time of reporting , triggering a high risk combat search and rescue operation deep inside hostile territory.

In a separate incident, an A-10 Thunderbolt II , popularly known as the Warthog, was lost in what is being described as a crash. While the precise cause remains unclear, reports suggest the aircraft may have gone down while attempting to evade incoming fire. Whether shot down or forced into evasive manoeuvres, the outcome remains the same, a frontline combat aircraft lost in an active war zone . The pilot is reported to have been rescued safely , underscoring the intensity of the engagement.

Further adding to the mounting losses, a Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk operating as part of the rescue effort was reportedly hit by hostile fire , with visuals circulating of a helicopter trailing smoke mid-flight. The aircraft is believed to have conducted an emergency landing in Iraq , with both crew members rescued separately , pointing to sustained threats even to recovery missions.

There are also emerging reports that a F-16CJ Fighting Falcon was damaged during operations and forced to carry out an emergency landing. While details remain limited, such an incident, if confirmed, would be particularly significant given the aircraft’s role in targeting and neutralising enemy air defence systems.

These incidents, taken together, paint a starkly different picture from the official narrative of uncontested air superiority. While the United States continues to carry out extensive aerial operations, the ability of Iranian air defences to detect, engage, and damage high value assets suggests a resilient and adaptive system still capable of imposing costs.