Iran Strikes Saudi Base: US AWACS Jet Destroyed?

An Iranian strike has completely destroyed a U.S. Air Force E-3 AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to images published Sunday. The aircraft, a key radar surveillance and battle management asset, was split in two by the explosion, with its radar dome hurled to the ground.

US AWACS Aircraft Destroyed in Iranian Strike

Documentation indicates the aircraft’s fuselage was split in two, and its large radar dome was destroyed. Reports released Saturday stated that 12 soldiers were wounded in the attack and several additional tanker aircraft sustained damage.

The destroyed aircraft manages air battle space and provides commanders with real-time battlefield intelligence. The U.S. military operates a fleet of only 16 of these aircraft, and the production line has been closed. At least three of these aircraft were operating as part of Operation Epic Fury, and the loss of this one will require the U.S. to deploy an additional plane to the region.

“This is a very big deal,” retired U.S. Air Force Colonel John Venable told the Wall Street Journal. “It hurts the ability of the US to see what’s happening in the Gulf.” Some experts suggest the precision of the strike may have been aided by intelligence provided to Iran by an outside party, such as Russia or China.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to threaten the United States, anticipating a potential American ground assault. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, stated, “Iran’s armed forces are waiting for the arrival of the American military and are ready to punish the United States and its allies.”

Qalibaf added that the U.S. is secretly preparing a ground attack despite public discussion of negotiations and diplomacy. The New York Post reported Sunday that the U.S. military has prepared plans for ground operations in Iran, coinciding with the arrival of the 31st MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) in the region.