Iran may have shot down a U.S. F-15 with a Chinese missile - NBC News 30 May 2026
Kyiv • UNN
An F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet over Iran was likely hit by a Chinese MANPADS. The aircraft crew was rescued, and the U.S. is investigating weapon supplies by Beijing.
An American F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet shot down over southwestern Iran last month was likely hit by a Chinese-made man-portable missile. This was reported by NBC News, citing three sources familiar with the investigation, according to UNN.
Details
According to the television channel, the U.S. continues to investigate the circumstances of the incident. This is the first time in decades that an American fighter jet has been shot down by enemy fire.
Also, according to NBC information, China may have provided Iran with a YLC-8B long-range early warning radar system capable of detecting stealth aircraft.
The report notes that the American aircraft was likely hit by a man-portable air-defense system—a so-called MANPADS. Such missiles are about two meters long and weigh approximately 18 kilograms.
The F-15 crew ejected. The pilot was rescued within seven hours, while the weapons systems officer was sought for nearly two days in the Zagros Mountains, the Pentagon reported.
NBC notes that Iran's use of Chinese weaponry complicates relations between Washington and Beijing amid attempts by the Donald Trump administration to involve China in resolving the conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC that Washington is not asking for China's help, but emphasized that Beijing also has an interest in ending the war due to its dependence on global oil prices.
Trump himself previously stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him that no weapons were being supplied to Iran.
"President Xi promised me that he is not supplying weapons to Iran. That is a wonderful promise. I take him at his word,"
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. rejected the allegations.
"China always acts cautiously and responsibly in the field of military product exports,"
NBC also reports that U.S. intelligence had previously recorded China's preparations for new deliveries of air defense systems to Iran. Additionally, Washington recently imposed sanctions on three Chinese satellite companies which, according to the U.S. version, helped Tehran obtain intelligence for attacks on American forces in the Middle East.
At the same time, American officials emphasize that China's support for Iran has not had a decisive impact on the course of hostilities.
"It was not significant support. It did not have a decisive operational impact,"