Verified images show a US E-3 Sentry aircraft, used for airborne radar and command operations, has been severely damaged at Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia. The photos. Shared by a US military news Facebook page, show the aircraft split in two, with visible damage to its structure and equipment.

Location and Verification

The images were confirmed to have been taken at Prince Sultan air base, located about 100 kilometers southeast of Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Features such as pylons. Storage units. And markings on the base’s paved areas in the photos matched with satellite imagery from the area. The BBC has confirmed the authenticity of the images, though US Central Command has not yet publicly commented on the incident.

The BBC has asked for a statement from US Central Command, which has not yet responded. The incident comes after a report from a US official to Reuters on Friday, stating that 12 US personnel were wounded in an Iranian military attack on the base, with two of them in serious condition. The Wall Street Journal reported that at least two US refueling aircraft were also damaged in the same attack.

Iranian Claims and Satellite Evidence

On Sunday. Iran’s Islamic Major Guard Corps (IRGC)-linked Fars news agency claimed that a Shahed drone had struck the E-3 aircraft, as BBC Verify has also seen an E-3 in this location in a satellite image captured on 11 March. However, it is unclear whether the aircraft in the image is the same one shown in the verified photos.

In one of the verified images. The aircraft’s tail number is visible — Using this information, BBC reporters checked the flight-tracking site Flightradar24, which showed the E-3 was airborne near the base on 18 March. This suggests the aircraft was operating in the area at the time of the reported attack.

A satellite image taken on Friday shows a fire on the air base apron, about 1,600 meters east of the E-3; it is not clear whether this fire was part of the same attack that damaged the aircraft seen in the photos. The timeline and exact cause of the damage remain unclear, though the incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of US military assets in the region.

Role and Significance of the E-3 Aircraft

The Boeing E-3 Awacs, an airborne warning and control system, is based on the Boeing 707 airliner and features a distinctive rotating radar disc on its fuselage. This radar allows it to detect and track potential targets at long ranges, providing early warning of threats during combat operations.

The aircraft gives ‘information for commanders of air operations to gain and maintain control of the air battle,’ according to the US Air Force website. The E-3 first entered service in 1977, and it has been reported that the aircraft is expected to remain operational with the USAF until 2035.

The destruction of such a critical asset in Saudi Arabia has significant implications for US military operations in the Middle East. The E-3 is a key component of US air superiority and command systems, and its loss could impact coordination and situational awareness in the region.

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran in the region, with both sides accusing each other of provocative actions. The attack on the E-3 is the latest in a series of incidents that have raised concerns about the stability of the region and the security of US military installations in the Middle East.

The US has maintained a significant military presence in Saudi Arabia for decades, with bases serving as key hubs for regional operations. The damage to the E-3 aircraft could disrupt ongoing missions and raise questions about the security of US forces in the area.

With the E-3 expected to remain in service until 2035, its destruction raises questions about the long-term viability of the aircraft in the current conflict environment. The US may need to accelerate plans for replacing the E-3 with newer models, such as the E-7 Wedgetail or the E-3’s successor, which are currently in development.

The incident also highlights the growing use of drones and asymmetric warfare tactics in modern conflicts. The use of a Shahed drone by Iran to target the E-3 highlights the increasing threat posed by such weapons to traditional military assets.

As the situation develops, the US military and its allies will be closely monitoring the situation in the region. The incident could have far-reaching implications for US military strategy, regional security, and the ongoing conflict with Iran.