Verified photographs reveal that a US command and control aircraft has been destroyed at an air base in Saudi Arabia. The images, reportedly shared by a Facebook page dedicated to US military news, depict the E-3 Sentry aircraft appearing to be split in two.
These images have been confirmed to have been taken at Prince Sultan air base, located approximately 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Riyadh, as they correspond with features visible in satellite imagery.
US Central Command has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident, with the BBC requesting further comments on the matter. Earlier reports from a US official indicated that 12 US personnel suffered injuries, including two serious cases, following an Iranian military attack on the base. Additionally, it has been reported that at least two US refueling aircraft were also damaged during the incident.
Iran's IRGC-linked Fars news agency claimed that a Shahed drone was responsible for the strike on the E-3 aircraft. Satellite imagery corroborates that an E-3 was present at the base on March 11, though it remains unclear if it is the same plane displayed in the recent photographs.
One of the verified images shows the aircraft's tail number, allowing for tracking through aviation sites, which confirmed it was airborne near the base on March 18. Recent satellite data captured a fire at the air base apron, approximately 1,600 m (5,200 ft) east of the damaged E-3, although it is not determined whether this was part of the same attack.
The Boeing E-3 Awacs, an advanced radar aircraft based on the Boeing 707 airliner, is designed to detect and track potential threats at long ranges, providing crucial early warnings during combat operations. The E-3 has been operational since 1977 and is expected to remain in service with the USAF until 2035.
These images have been confirmed to have been taken at Prince Sultan air base, located approximately 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Riyadh, as they correspond with features visible in satellite imagery.
US Central Command has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident, with the BBC requesting further comments on the matter. Earlier reports from a US official indicated that 12 US personnel suffered injuries, including two serious cases, following an Iranian military attack on the base. Additionally, it has been reported that at least two US refueling aircraft were also damaged during the incident.
Iran's IRGC-linked Fars news agency claimed that a Shahed drone was responsible for the strike on the E-3 aircraft. Satellite imagery corroborates that an E-3 was present at the base on March 11, though it remains unclear if it is the same plane displayed in the recent photographs.
One of the verified images shows the aircraft's tail number, allowing for tracking through aviation sites, which confirmed it was airborne near the base on March 18. Recent satellite data captured a fire at the air base apron, approximately 1,600 m (5,200 ft) east of the damaged E-3, although it is not determined whether this was part of the same attack.
The Boeing E-3 Awacs, an advanced radar aircraft based on the Boeing 707 airliner, is designed to detect and track potential threats at long ranges, providing crucial early warnings during combat operations. The E-3 has been operational since 1977 and is expected to remain in service with the USAF until 2035.
