Following the confirmation on March 27 that Prince Sultan Air Base was struck by a combination of drones and ballistic missiles, a series of widely circulated images have revealed what is, to date, one of the most significant blows suffered by the United States Armed Forces since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury. In detail, and as shown in the released photographs, the loss of one of the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) valuable E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft has been visually confirmed.
However, since the confirmation of the attacks, neither U.S. Central Command nor the U.S. Armed Forces have provided further details regarding the Iranian strike on March 27 against Prince Sultan Air Base, located in Saudi Arabia.
The images have also allowed the open-source intelligence (OSINT) community to potentially identify the aircraft destroyed in the Iranian attack, presumably the E-3C Sentry with serial number 81-0005, which was completely destroyed. It is believed that the strike was concentrated on the rear section of the fuselage, where the aircraft’s radome is located.
It can be inferred that “81-0005” is one of the six E-3 Sentry aircraft that the U.S. Air Force had deployed to the Middle East and that had been operating there since before the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 28.
The confirmed destruction of one E-3 Sentry on the ground represents a blow to the airborne early warning and control capabilities that the U.S. Air Force can deploy in the Middle East, as well as to the fleet itself, which would be left with only 16 operational aircraft.
As of today, the Sentry—despite decades of service—remains the primary platform for airborne early warning, command and control, reconnaissance, as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions within the USAF. While the service has been moving forward with the development of a replacement—an effort that has faced various setbacks and scrutiny throughout 2025—the E-3 will continue operating for the coming years as older aircraft are gradually retired.
It should also be noted that the E-3 Sentry destroyed at Prince Sultan Air Base was not the only target hit in the Iranian attacks, as satellite imagery also suggests that several KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft—vital for aerial refueling operations—were also struck.
Finally, it is important to highlight that Iran has been targeting other U.S. facilities and assets across the region. Notably, there have been attacks against elements of THAAD missile defense systems in recent days, as well as against other bases in the region.
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