Single jet loss over Iran does not undermine US air superiority, expert says

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The shooting down of an American fighter plane in Iran has led to a discussion about the current status of America's air supremacy, though some military strategists believe that a single defeat is not enough to disprove overall air superiority.

A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on Friday, April 3, while carrying out its mission, with one US soldier reported missing. The Trump administration coming under fire for claiming US air supremacy in the area.

Zero risk is not the standard according to experts

Defense analysts and former military officials cautioned against equating a single loss with strategic failure. They emphasized that air superiority has never meant total invulnerability.

Control of the airspace above an active conflict zone never guarantees safety, analysts say, citing the destruction of the only US plane lost in Iranian airspace, which resulted in one missing serviceman.

The loss of an F-15E Air Force fighter jet has raised questions about US air superiority in Iranian airspace.

"By historical standards, one fighter loss, after four weeks of combat, over highly defended territory is amazingly low,"  Ret Lt Gen David Deptula said Friday on 'The Will Cain Show.'

"It means the ability to operate where and when use choose without prohibitive interference," he added.

Deptula noted that coalition forces in Operation Desert Storm lost nearly one aircraft per day during 43 days of combat.

Measuring air superiority

General David Deptula is also quoted in an article, “High-end combat against a capable, integrated air defense system is never risk-free.”

"What distinguishes modern Western airpower is not invulnerability, but the ability to survive, penetrate, and sustain operations while keeping losses exceptionally low.”

The aircraft losses do “not invalidate the larger reality that US and allied forces have achieved a very high degree of air superiority over Iran,” Deptula said. “Air superiority does not mean zero risk.”

However, the term “air superiority” is often misconstrued by many people, according to experts.

It does not imply total domination of the skies but means the opposition is incapable of hindering any activities.

During modern warfare, especially against an enemy with air defense systems, some level of attrition is inevitable. Experts note that no military force, regardless of technological sophistication, can eliminate all threats.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on an F-15E fighter jet that went down in Iran.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and state media claimed they shot down a US fighter jet over central Iran, specifically in the mountainous Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.