Shocking Images: US Radar Jet Destroyed at Saudi Base

US spy plane destroyed in a suspected Iran strike at a Saudi air base, raising tensions in the Middle East conflict and sparking global security concerns.

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Mar 30, 2026 - 13:41

Shocking Images: US Radar Jet Destroyed at Saudi Base

Confirmed photographs reveal that a US command and control aircraft has been destroyed at an air base in Saudi Arabia.

It appears that these images were first shared on a Facebook page dedicated to news related to the US military. In these photographs, an E-3 Sentry aircraft is seen broken in two.

We have confirmed that these photographs were taken at Prince Sultan Air Base, located approximately 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Features visible in the photographs—such as pylons, storage units, and markings on the paved surfaces—match satellite imagery of the site.

US Central Command has not yet publicly commented on this incident.

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On Friday, a US official stated that 12 American soldiers were injured—two of whom are in critical condition—during an Iranian military attack on the air base. *The Wall Street Journal* reported that at least two US refueling aircraft also sustained damage.

On Sunday, *Fars*—a news agency affiliated with Iran's IRGC—reported that a "Shahed" drone had attacked the E-3 aircraft.

In one of the confirmed photographs, the aircraft's tail number is clearly visible. Using this number, we cross-referenced data on the flight-tracking website Flightradar24, which revealed that the aircraft was airborne in the vicinity of the base on March 18.

A satellite image taken on Friday appears to show a fire on the air base's apron (the aircraft parking area); this location is situated approximately 1,600 meters (5,200 feet) east of the E-3 aircraft. It remains unclear whether this incident was part of the same attack that damaged the aircraft depicted in the aforementioned photographs.

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The Boeing E-3 AWACS—an acronym for "Airborne Warning and Control System"—is based on the Boeing 707 passenger airliner. A specialized rotating radar dish is mounted on its rear section (fuselage).

This radar enables it to detect and track potential targets from long distances, thereby providing early warning regarding potential threats during combat operations.

According to the USAF website, this aircraft "provides commanders of air operations with the necessary information to gain and maintain control of the air battle."

The first aircraft of this class entered service in 1977. According to reports, the E-3 aircraft is expected to remain in service with the USAF until 2035.

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