British pilot ‘not euphoric’ after downing Iranian drones in RAF first

F-35 pilot based in Cyprus becomes first to destroy a target in combat – and celebrates with a single beer In the clear skies above Jordan on Monday night, a British F-35 pilot made a small piece of history. Flying for four hours alongside two Typhoons, the radar picked up two Shahed drones. The squadron tactics instructor – whom the Guardian is not naming – hit the drones with two Asraam missiles. In doing so he became the first pilot of the Royal Air Force’s stealth fighter jet to destroy a...

By Jessica Elgot at RAF Akrotiri