An American E-3 Sentry was destroyed during Iran’s attack on the Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia, according to US officials and new photos.
Viral images circulated online and verified by the AFP show the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System Aircraft (AWACS) ripped in two following Friday’s missile and drone assault.
The destruction of the $270 million aircraft is a significant blow to America’s ability to get a real-time picture of battle and assess incoming attacks in the Middle East, retired Air Force Col. John Venable told The Wall Street Journal.
“It’s a huge deal,” he told the outlet. “It hurts the US’s ability to see what’s happening in the Gulf and maintain situational awareness.”
The US Air Force had just 16 E-3 Sentry aircraft in circulation prior to Friday’s attack, six of which were stationed at the Prince Sultan Airbase, according to Air & Space Magazine.
US Central Command has yet to comment on the attack.
Twelve US service members were also reportedly injured after an Iranian missile and multiple drones hit the air base.
At least two of the wounded service members are considered to be seriously wounded, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US and Arab officials.
Multiple US refueling aircraft were also damaged in the attack. At least one KC135 Air refueling plane was hit and reportedly caught fire, a senior US official told Fox News.
The American airbase has been repeatedly targeted by Iran’s retaliatory attacks in the Gulf, with a previous assault damaging five refueling aircraft earlier this month. Since the start of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, about 303 US service members have been wounded and at least 13 killed, according to CENTCOM.
