Major Blow to US Air Power: Special Aircraft Destroyed in Iranian Strike on Saudi Base
According to reports confirmed by US officials to the Wall Street Journal, a Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS)—crucial for long-range radar detection and battlefield coordination—was destroyed in the attack.
The strike also injured 12 US service members and damaged several aerial refueling tankers. The loss of the E-3 Sentry is particularly severe, as the US fleet of this model has dwindled to just 16 units. Replacing this capability with the modern E-7 Wedgetail would cost approximately $700 million per unit, making this a massive strategic and financial setback for Washington.
