politics
March 30, 2026
Iran claims destruction of US spy plane in strike on Saudi airbase
An American E-3 Sentry AWACS spy plane has been struck during a missile attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the IRGC has said
TL;DR
- Iran's IRGC claims a US Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft was "100% destroyed" in a missile and drone strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
- The attack, which occurred on Friday, also reportedly wounded at least 15 US troops, with five in serious condition.
- Satellite images and open-source intelligence monitors suggest significant damage to the spy plane, an E-3G "Sentry" with the U.S. Air Force’s 552nd Air Control Wing.
- Prince Sultan Air Base has been targeted by Iran three times in the last week, with at least six AWACS planes reportedly stationed there.
- The E-3 Sentry, produced between 1977 and 1992, costs approximately $270 million, while its potential replacement, the E-7 Wedgetail, costs over $700 million.
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