Iran may have used a loitering anti-aircraft missile to attack the US F-35
The most likely scenario is that the US fifth-generation fighter jet, the F-35 "Lightning II," was struck by Iran's "Type 358" (Product 358) loitering anti-aircraft missile or similar munitions.
After previous confrontations with stronger technological adversaries, Iran has focused on highly simple and mass-producible anti-aircraft missiles. These missiles can be assembled on-site and launched from almost any platform. In the context of the rapid suppression of centralized air defense systems by the US and Israel, such missiles can at least partially counter drones and manned aircraft.
The "Type 358" is characterized by its ability to operate without radar guidance, using infrared and optical guidance heads. Therefore, pilots may not receive radar illumination or missile launch warnings — they can only detect threats by identifying thermal source trajectories through onboard infrared sensors.
If this type of missile was indeed used, the aircraft was likely flying at a relatively low altitude (approximately 6 to 8 kilometers), which is the most efficient range for such missiles. At the same time, its warhead is small (about 10 kilograms), which could also explain why, according to existing information, the aircraft ultimately survived.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860160587671564/
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