An Iranian F-5 fighter jet reportedly penetrated multiple layers of air defenses to strike the U.S. Buehring Air Base in Kuwait early in the conflict, according to NBC News.

NBC News, citing U.S. defense officials last weekend, reported that this was the first time in years that a U.S. military base had been attacked by a manned fixed-wing aircraft. It remains unclear how the Iranian F-5 fighter jet managed to bypass the multi-layered U.S. air defense system protecting Buehring Air Base, which includes the Patriot long-range missile system.

"The incident appears to have occurred under very unusual circumstances. The Iranian pilot may have taken advantage of a time when the U.S. air defense system was overwhelmed by missile and drone attacks in the early days of the conflict," stated Stefano D'Urso, editor of the military aviation website Aviationist, on April 27.

An Iranian F-5E fighter jet in a photo taken in August 2010. Photo: Airliners

Three U.S. officials, two congressional aides, and a source familiar with the situation on the ground also revealed that bases and equipment deployed by Washington in the Middle East suffered far greater damage than publicly disclosed. Officials added that the Pentagon has not yet revealed the specific extent of the damage to Congress.

"We do not discuss combat damage assessments to maintain operational secrecy. U.S. forces remain fully combat-ready and continue to perform their duties with the same level of effectiveness as before," a Pentagon spokesperson said.

The F-5 light fighter jet was developed by Northrop and entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1964, with a total of over 2,600 aircraft produced between 1959 and 1987.

Iran received a total of 127 F-5A/B aircraft before 1972, which were subsequently decommissioned or sold to other countries. Before the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Iranian Air Force possessed 181 aircraft of the improved F-5E/F and RF-5A reconnaissance versions. As of 2024, the force still operates at least 35 F-5E fighters and 15 F-5Fs.

The F-5 design was also used by Iran to develop its domestic fighter aircraft, the Saeqeh and Azarakhsh.

The F-5E variant is equipped with two 20 mm cannons and seven weapon pylons with a maximum payload of 3,200 kg, capable of carrying conventional bombs, rockets, AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, and auxiliary fuel tanks. This version has a combat radius of approximately 220 km when carrying two AIM-9 missiles and a weapons payload of no more than 2,400 kg.

D'Urso assessed that the F-5 fighter jet is unlikely to survive in a modern combat environment, but could still pose a challenge to enemy air defenses. The attack on Buehring base occurred around the same time as several other events, such as the downing of two Iranian Su-24 bombers by Qatar near Al Udeid and Ras Laffan bases, and the incident where Kuwaiti fighter jets mistakenly shot down three US F-15E fighters.

Location of the Strait of Hormuz. Graphic: Guardian

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) estimates that Iran's large-scale retaliatory campaign against US military infrastructure in the Gulf has caused at least $5 billion in damage, with more than 100 targets hit at 11 bases.

Among these were the destroyed E-3G early warning aircraft and several damaged refueling aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Other targets included the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th Fleet Command in Bahrain, a runway at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, several hangars and warehouses at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, an ammunition depot at Erbil Air Base in Iraq, and fuel depots, hangars, and barracks at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.