Home / War and Conflict / Iran Missile Strike Downs US AWACS Jet
Iran Missile Strike Downs US AWACS Jet
29 Mar
Summary
- An Iranian missile strike destroyed a valuable E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft.
- The roughly $300 million plane was hit at Prince Sultan Air Base.
- This marks the first known combat loss of an E-3 Sentry early warning jet.
An Iranian missile strike recently targeted Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, resulting in the destruction of a valuable E-3 Sentry early warning and control aircraft. This incident marks the first known combat loss for this type of aircraft, with the plane reportedly costing around $300 million.
Unverified images circulating show the AWACS jet with its tail severed, rendering it irreparable. The E-3 Sentry, equipped with a distinctive rotating radar disc, plays a crucial role in spotting distant threats and directing other combat aircraft, offering a significant advantage.
While the U.S. operates over 60 such aircraft and can replace the lost one, its destruction is a costly event. Experts note that this incident underscores the vulnerability of large aircraft on the ground and the necessity of active defenses, which can sometimes fail.
This loss comes as the U.S. has not lost any crewed planes in the air during the campaign against Iran, though over a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones have been shot down. This suggests the airspace over Iran remains perilous.
