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An American F-15 fighter pilot, rescued by special forces after his plane crashed over Iran in April, has reported seeing an unusual sight moments before he ejected: several Iranian drones hovering in the air and moving in a coordinated manner, forming a structure resembling a jellyfish.
According to four sources familiar with the matter, the pilot shared this testimony with intelligence officials during a debriefing session after the incident. His claim immediately sparked widespread debate within the US intelligence community, a debate that continues to this day.
If what the pilot described is accurate and the drones were moving as a single coordinated system, this would represent a significant advancement in Iran's technological capabilities in the field of drones.
One of the sources told CNN that the pilot described several drones linked together, moving as a single unit, while smaller drones stood below the larger ones, creating the appearance of "legs."
Another source said the pilot spoke of a "drone minefield" in the air.
As the investigation into the F-15 downing continues, preliminary reports suggested that the drone formation may have played a role in Iran's ability to shoot down the US aircraft.
The F-15 had two people on board: the pilot and the weapons systems operator. US forces immediately launched search and rescue operations.
The F-15 downing marked the first time an American aircraft was shot down over Iranian territory during the conflict.
The pilot was rescued several hours after the ejection, while the weapons systems operator evaded capture by Iranian forces for more than a day by hiding in mountainous areas before being rescued as well. It is not known whether he also saw the same formation of drones.
During the rescue operation, another American aircraft, an A-10, was shot down, but its pilot managed to eject safely out of Iranian airspace.
American intelligence officials remain divided on the interpretation of the pilot's testimony. One factor that has influenced the assessment of the report is the fact that the pilot suffered a concussion during the crash.
According to sources, this was the second time he had been shot down during the war with Iran. Previously, he had been involved in a friendly fire incident by Kuwaiti forces in the early stages of the conflict.
Intelligence analysts have raised several possibilities: whether the pilot witnessed an advanced technology previously unknown to the US, an experimental test, or whether his perception was influenced by the conditions of the incident.
Sources said investigators asked the pilot several times if he was sure about what he had seen.
The US Air Force referred questions to US Central Command (CENTCOM), which did not respond directly to CNN's requests for comment. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also did not comment.
The issue takes on particular significance at a time when Washington and Tehran are holding negotiations to end the conflict. The talks, which began after last week's ceasefire, are expected to focus mainly on Iran's nuclear program, although the sides have also raised other issues.
According to two sources familiar with the matter, the capability described by the pilot had not previously been identified by US intelligence agencies as part of Iran's technological arsenal. However, there are reports that Iran has received assistance from China and Russia in developing drone technology.
Experts describe this technology as "one-to-many meshed networking," a system that allows one operator to control several drones simultaneously.
Russia and China are believed to possess such capabilities. Any further advancement in Iran's drone warfare program would be considered worrisome to the US and its allies in the region.
A US official noted that the mesh networking technology could also be used for civilian purposes, such as providing internet connectivity to remote areas without existing infrastructure.
During the weeks-long conflict, Iran made intensive use of attack drones as part of its military strategy against American, Israeli and Gulf forces.
Emma Bates, an expert on drone warfare and defense modernization, told CNN that such capabilities would pose a serious challenge to defense.
"If such a system can organize itself into distinct forms, maintain structure during flight, and carry out coordinated attacks, then we are dealing with a very advanced operational approach," she said.
Barcaleta disorientimi, ku eshgte piloti qe u shpetua!? Do thoni qe eshte klasifikuar personi, por mos harrojme qe Amerrikanet nxjerrin perhere, per show apo, e kane me gjithe mend te ekspozojne, pilote, gjenerale, kolonele e heronj te trupave Amerikane. Do te ishte mire te mbylleshin gojet liga qe njollosin integritetin e shtetit Amerikan.