Russian Verba missiles threaten F-35 fighter jets: A new challenge in Iranian airspace.
The Verba man-portable air defense system with its three-band seeker is believed to be capable of challenging the F-35 stealth fighter when operating in Iran's low-altitude flight zones.
The Russian-made Verba man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) is becoming a potential threat to the US fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets. According to Military Watch (MW) magazine, the Verba's technological advantage could be maximized if these aircraft operate at low altitudes in Iranian airspace.
The Verba system's technical advantages over its predecessors.
Recent military reports indicate that a US F-35 in central Iran was attacked by a Majid missile (also known as AD-08) using an infrared seeker. However, the Verba is considered a significant advancement in combat capabilities due to superior seeker technology and anti-jamming capabilities.
The core difference lies in Verba's unique 3-band seeker. This technology provides a qualitative advantage over modern electronic countermeasures, allowing the missile to accurately distinguish between real targets and heat decoys. Defense Network reported in February 2026 that this seeker enables Verba to effectively detect a wide variety of targets, even in heavily jammed environments.
The vulnerability stems from delays in F-35 software upgrades.
One key factor contributing to the F-35's vulnerability is the delay in deploying the Block 4 software version. According to Military Watch, this issue forces F-35 fighters to operate at lower altitudes than their ideal design, inadvertently putting them within the effective firing range of MANPADS systems such as Majid and Verba.
The combination of advanced Russian seeker technology and the temporary limitations of US fighter jets could turn Iranian airspace into a particularly dangerous area for low-altitude intrusive aircraft. While journalist Peter Suciu from The National Interest once argued that the Verba would be useless against the US Air Force, the current context suggests this view faces significant challenges.
Secret military agreement between Russia and Iran
According to data from the Financial Times and related documents, Iran is believed to have signed a secret agreement with Russia to enhance its short-range air defense capabilities. The value of this agreement is estimated at around 500 million euros, including 500 MANPADS launchers and 2,500 Verba missiles.
The deployment of a large number of Verba missiles will help Iran establish a dense air defense network, directly targeting enemy drones and low-flying fighter jets. This reinforces Military Watch's conclusion that Iranian airspace is becoming one of the most difficult areas in the world to penetrate at low altitudes.
