Intelligence officials believe a Chinese-made shoulder-launched missile brought down an American F-15E Strike Eagle over southwestern Iran last month, marking the first time in decades that enemy fire has destroyed a U.S. fighter jet. Three sources with direct knowledge of the incident told NBC News that the aircraft was likely hit by the weapon, which measures about 7 feet long and weighs roughly 40 pounds.
The two-man crew ejected safely from the aircraft. The pilot was rescued within seven hours, but locating the weapons systems officer took two additional days. He had taken shelter in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains before being recovered by American forces.
Beyond the missile itself, U.S. intelligence suggests China may have handed Iran a YLC-8B early-warning radar system, a long-range detection tool designed to track stealth aircraft that conventional systems cannot detect. The timing of when this equipment reached Iran remains unclear, as does whether the radar was actually deployed during the conflict.
The revelation creates a significant complication for the Trump administration, which is simultaneously negotiating with Beijing over ending the war and seeking Chinese cooperation on broader geopolitical concerns. President Trump said he has received personal assurances from President Xi Jinping that China is not sending military equipment to Iran.
"President Xi has promised me that he's not sending any weapons to Iran. That's a beautiful promise. I take him at his word," Trump told reporters at the White House last week. During a recent trip to Beijing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the administration is not requesting Chinese assistance, saying "We're not asking for China's help. We don't need their help."
Still, U.S. officials say they are aware of China's support for Iran. One official with knowledge of the matter indicated that while China has provided assistance, the level of support has not significantly altered the battlefield dynamics. "It was not significant support. There was no decisive operational impact to it," the official said.
The source of the shoulder-launched missile that struck the F-15 remains uncertain. It could have been delivered to Iran recently or drawn from older stockpiles that China shipped decades ago. During the 1980s and 1990s, Beijing sold Iran substantial quantities of weapons including ballistic missiles, anti-ship systems, tanks, and fighter jets. After the United Nations imposed an arms embargo on Iran in 2006, China shifted toward providing components and dual-use technology rather than finished weapons systems.
This month, the Trump administration also sanctioned three Chinese satellite companies, accusing them of providing imagery and data to help Iran target U.S. forces in the Middle East. China rejected those allegations.
The incident occurred as the Trump administration brokered a ceasefire with Iran ahead of a critical meeting with Xi Jinping. While the U.S. continues what it characterizes as "defensive" operations, diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict are ongoing. As Iran's largest customer for oil exports, China has stated that the war must end.
Beijing's statement on the matter stressed its commitment to responsible military export controls. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said that China "always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with China's laws and regulations on export control and due international obligations."
Experts note that China has long served as an economic lifeline for Iran despite U.S. sanctions. By supplying technology and dual-use items, Beijing has enabled Iran to develop its own domestic weapons production capacity and strengthen its military infrastructure. The pattern reflects a strategic relationship that predates the current conflict.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The irony is sharp: Trump is negotiating with Xi while U.S. intelligence finds Chinese weapons in Iranian hands, and the White House is publicly accepting Beijing's denials without pushing back."
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