Downed US pilot reported seeing Iranian drones swarm in 'jellyfish' formation

3 hours ago

A US F-15 pilot shot down over Iran in April described seeing multiple Iranian drones moving in unison in a formation resembling a jellyfish, sparking debate within US intelligence.
The drone formation, described as 'real alien sh*t' and a 'minefield of drones,' may have enabled Iran to down the F-15, though the exact cause is under investigation.
The pilot, who was concussed and had been shot down before, was rescued hours after ejecting; a weapons systems officer was rescued after evading capture for over a day.
A second aircraft, an A-10, was downed during rescue efforts, but its pilot ejected safely outside Iranian airspace.
US intelligence officials are divided on the pilot's account, questioning its clarity due to his condition and the potential implications for Iran's drone capabilities.
The described capability, 'one-to-many meshed networking,' allows controlling multiple drones at once and is suspected to be developed with assistance from China and Russia.
Iran's drone program is a concern amid US-Iran negotiations to end the war, with talks focusing on nuclear issues but covering a wide range of topics.
Meshed networking could be used for benign purposes like internet connectivity, but its military applications pose significant threats, requiring costly defenses.

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