Photo: EPA
Iran likely used Chinese-supplied weapons during recent combat operations, potentially including a portable air-defense missile system that shot down a US F-15E Strike Eagle, according to reporting by NBC News citing three sources familiar with the investigation.
US officials are still examining the circumstances of the downing of the F-15E over southwestern Iran in April. According to the sources, the aircraft was most likely hit by a Chinese-manufactured man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS), a shoulder-fired missile used against low-flying aircraft.
Officials are also investigating whether China provided Iran with additional military support, including a long-range early-warning radar system capable of detecting low-observable aircraft designed to evade radar detection. One US official and another source familiar with the matter said such systems may have been delivered at the beginning of the conflict.
The F-15E Strike Eagle incident is considered by US officials to be one of the rare cases in recent decades where an American combat aircraft was shot down by enemy fire. Both crew members successfully ejected, with one rescued within hours and the second recovered after an extended search operation.
US President Donald Trump stated after the incident that the aircraft had been hit by a portable missile system, without providing further technical details. MANPADS are relatively small, mobile air-defense weapons typically around two meters long and weighing under 20 kilograms, designed to target low-altitude aircraft.
Iranian access to such systems, if confirmed, could further complicate already tense relations between Washington and Beijing. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged in comments to NBC News that China is a major global player in the energy market and has influence over Iran, but emphasized that the United States is not relying on China to resolve the conflict.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington rejected the allegations, stating that China strictly regulates its arms exports and opposes what it called “baseless accusations.”
At the same time, US intelligence reportedly continues to monitor possible Chinese involvement in Iran’s military capabilities, including satellite support and dual-use technologies. However, US officials cited in the report stressed that any Chinese assistance identified so far has not had a decisive impact on battlefield outcomes.
