In First Combat Engagement, British F-35 Shot Down Iranian Kamikaze Drone over Jordan

A Royal Air Force F-35B has shot down an Iranian one-way attack drone over Jordanian airspace, marking the first time the U.K.’s F-35 fleet has destroyed a target during combat operations.

The aircraft was operating over Jordan in defence of the country when it intercepted the uncrewed aerial system. RAF Typhoon jets and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft supported the mission as part of a wider defensive operation to protect British forces and regional allies.

The Ministry of Defence said British forces have intercepted multiple drones across the region in the past 24 hours. A Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems team downed drones in Iraqi airspace that were heading toward Coalition personnel. On Monday, an RAF Typhoon from the joint U.K.-Qatar 12 Squadron shot down an Iranian drone aimed at Qatar.

The aerial engagements come amid rising tensions following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory Iranian missile and drone launches across the Middle East.

In response to the deteriorating security situation, the U.K. is deploying the Type-45 destroyer HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean, along with two Wildcat helicopters to Cyprus to reinforce drone defences.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X that the U.K. was “fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there,” adding, “We will always act in the interest of the U.K. and our allies.”

The deployments follow a drone strike on the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said a Shahed-type drone caused minor damage when it crashed into military facilities near Limassol, prompting the evacuation of around 1,000 residents as emergency measures were put in place.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron ordered the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to redeploy to the Mediterranean, alongside additional air defence assets and the frigate Languedoc to waters off Cyprus.