A US Air Force E-3 Sentry fighter aircraft.Image: IMAGO / StockTrek Images
March 29, 2026, 2:00 p.mMarch 29, 2026, 2:11 p.m
On Friday, Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia was hit by an Iranian missile and drone attack. In the course of this, a US E-3 Sentry aircraft was apparently damaged, reports this, among other things “Wall Street Journal”.
Twelve members of the armed forces were injured in the attack, the newspaper writes. In addition, several US tanker aircraft were damaged.
Images on social media are intended to show the extent of the destruction. However, the recordings were not officially confirmed.
Pictures show the total loss of 81-0005, an E-3G “Sentry” Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft with the US Air Force’s 552nd Air Control Wing based out of Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, following yesterday’s Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack on Prince… pic.twitter.com/NNnILybnrU
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 29, 2026
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is used as an AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft by the US Air Force. It tracks drones, missiles and aircraft from hundreds of kilometers away. According to military analysts, the aircraft provides commanders with a real-time picture of the war situation, allowing them to direct resources to counter threats and coordinate friendly aircraft.
The damage to the aircraft was a “serious matter,” said retired US Air Force Colonel John Venable. “It affects the ability of the US to survey the situation in the Gulf and maintain situational awareness.” The number of E-3 Sentrys is limited. Of the original 34 units, 16 of the machines were still in active service. (hkl)