Qatar shoots down two Iranian Su-24MK tactical bombers after missile attack on Gulf state.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on March 2, 2026, that the Qatar Emiri Air Force shot down two Iranian Su-24 strike bombers approaching national airspace, marking the first destruction of an Iranian aircraft in flight since the beginning of the 2026 Iran war.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Qatar Emiri Air Force shot down two Iranian Su-24 strike bombers approaching national airspace during the third day of Operation Epic Fury. The same day, air defense systems also intercepted several ballistic missiles and drones targeting locations across the state. The interception marked the first confirmed destruction of an Iranian aircraft in flight since the beginning of the 2026 Iran war.
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Iran acquired its first Su-24MK bombers from the Soviet Union around 1989 and later expanded the fleet during the 1991 Gulf War, when Iraqi pilots flew several combat aircraft to Iran to avoid destruction by coalition forces. (Picture source: Wikimedia/Shahram Sharifi)

On March 2, 2026, Qatar's Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Qatar Emiri Air Force shot down two Iranian Su-24MK strike bombers approaching its airspace, while air defense systems intercepted seven ballistic missiles and five drones targeting several areas of the state. The response was carried out immediately after detection in accordance with an operational plan, and all ballistic missiles were destroyed before reaching their intended targets. The interceptions involved both the Qatar Emiri Air Force and the Qatar Emiri Navy Forces for the drones, while the air force conducted the aircraft engagements. The engagement took place during the third day of combat operations linked to Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, marking the first confirmed destruction of Iranian aircraft in flight since the beginning of the conflict.

Earlier on the same day, two drones targeted a power plant in Mesaieed and an energy installation in Ras Laffan Industrial City, with the extent of damage still under assessment at the time of the announcement. Other developments occurring in the same operational period included the loss of three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft over Kuwait after an explosion was observed on one aircraft before it spiraled toward the ground, with all six crew members ejecting and later recovered safely. U.S. Central Command also confirmed that B-1B Lancer bombers conducted strikes inside Iran during the night between March 1 and March 2, 2026, targeting elements linked to Iranian ballistic missile capabilities. The same operational update included confirmation that the Iranian Shahid Bagheri drone carrier, delivered to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval fleet in 2025, was among eleven naval vessels destroyed during operations. 

The Qatar Emiri Air Force operates three main fighter aircraft types for air defense and combat missions: the F-15QA Ababil, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Dassault Rafale. These jets conduct patrol, interception, and strike missions and operate alongside ground-based air defense systems, including Patriot and NASAMS batteries, under national control. Fighter aircraft, therefore, remain a possible component of the shoot down, while surface-to-air systems may have been used depending on the target profile and flight trajectory. During the same period of operations, a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 deployed to Qatar with the joint British-Qatari No. 12 Squadron shot down an Iranian drone using an air-to-air missile on March 1, 2026.

The regional operational picture also included repeated drone launches toward RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, where one drone struck the runway with limited damage reported and no injuries, prompting Greece to deploy naval vessels and F-16 aircraft to reinforce the island’s defense. Iran acquired its first Su-24MK strike aircraft from the Soviet Union around 1989, and deliveries took place between 1990 and 1992, including at least 12 aircraft supplied directly by Moscow. During the 1991 Gulf War, a large number of Iraqi Air Force aircraft fled to Iran to avoid destruction during the coalition air campaign, including 24 of its 30 Su-24 bombers that landed at Iranian air bases. Iran impounded these aircraft and integrated them into its own air force, considering them compensation for damage inflicted during the Iran-Iraq War.

By January 2013, about 30 Su-24MK aircraft were reported in operational service, although several aircraft had been lost in accidents over time. The aircraft remained one of the few dedicated tactical bombers in Iranian service and continued to operate in strike roles alongside older fighters such as the F-4 Phantom II. Iran has used the Sukhoi Su-24MK mainly for long-range conventional strike missions within the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, delivering guided or unguided bombs and missiles against simulated military infrastructure and ground targets during training and operational exercises. The aircraft also serves as a launch platform for air-launched cruise missiles, including the Asef missile revealed in 2023, extending strike reach when combined with the aircraft’s combat radius.

Iranian Su-24s have been employed in weapons integration and testing activities, including trials of domestically produced anti-radar missiles intended to target air-defense systems. The aircraft regularly participates in large-scale national air force exercises that simulate attacks on ground or naval targets and involve coordinated operations with other aircraft, drones, and air defense units. These exercises include long-distance strike profiles and night operations to maintain crew training and operational readiness. The Su-24MK is the export version of the improved Su-24M and incorporates structural and systems changes introduced during the modernization of the original aircraft.

The Su-24M added an extended fuselage section forward of the cockpit and a retractable in-flight refueling probe, along with upgraded navigation and weapons control systems designed to support a wider range of guided weapons. Export aircraft retained most of the strike capability while incorporating modified avionics and weapons integration adapted for foreign operators. Production of the Su-24MK variant took place between 1988 and 1992, and aircraft of this configuration were delivered to Algeria, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. Many Iraqi Su-24MK aircraft relocated to Iran during the Gulf War, contributing significantly to the Iranian inventory of the type, as it maintains compatibility with a wide range of strike munitions and supports both conventional bombing and precision-guided attack missions. 

In terms of design, the Su-24MK is a twin-engine aircraft equipped with a shoulder-mounted variable-geometry wing that can be set at 16 degrees for takeoff and landing, 35 and 45 degrees for cruise and maneuvering flight, and 69 degrees for high-speed low-level dash profiles. Power is provided by two Lyulka AL-21F-3A afterburning turbojet engines producing 75 kN of thrust each in dry power and 109.8 kN with afterburner. The aircraft has a length of 22.53 m, a height of 6.19 m, and a wingspan of 17.64 m with wings extended or 10.37 m when swept. The empty weight is 22,300 kg, and the maximum takeoff weight reaches 43,755 kg.

Maximum speed is 1,654 km per hour at altitude and 1,315 km per hour at sea level, with a service ceiling of 11,000 m and a climb rate of 150 m per second. The aircraft’s ferry range reaches 2,775 km, and the combat range for a low-level attack mission carrying 3,000 kg of ordnance and external fuel tanks is 615 km. Armament on the Su-24MK includes one internal 23 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23M rotary cannon with 500 rounds mounted in the lower fuselage. The aircraft has nine external hardpoints and can carry up to 8,000 kg of ordnance in various configurations depending on mission requirements.

Air-to-air missiles carried for self-defense include R-60MK and R-73E missiles. Air-to-surface weapons include Kh-23M and Kh-25ML guided missiles, Kh-29L or Kh-29T strike missiles, Kh-59ME standoff missiles, and anti-radiation weapons, including Kh-28, Kh-58E, Kh-25MP, and Kh-31P. Anti-ship capability is provided by Kh-31A missiles. Bomb payload options include KAB-500KR, KAB-500L, KAB-500OD, KAB-500S-E, KAB-1500KR, and KAB-1500L guided bombs, as well as ODAB-500PM bombs, RBK-250 and RBK-500 cluster bombs, BETAB-500 bombs, and unguided rockets including S-5, S-8, S-13, S-24B, and S-25 types.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.