Overview
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which struck Prince Sultan Air Base on Friday, says it destroyed a U.S. E-3 Sentry radar plane.
- Open-source photos identify aircraft 81-0005 with its rear fuselage burned, and Sentinel-2 data shows a heat signature from a large fire.
- The Wall Street Journal reports at least 12 U.S. service members were wounded, including two seriously, and several KC-135 tankers were damaged.
- U.S. authorities have not publicly confirmed a total loss of the aircraft as verification and damage assessments continue.
- The E-3 directs air operations over long ranges, and a nearest replacement is estimated to cost more than $700 million, raising concerns about reduced command-and-control coverage in the region.