Iran claims destroying US 'E-3G Sentry AWACS' aircraft in Saudi Arabia

ALBAWABA - Iran claimed to have hit and destroyed a U.S. E-3G Sentry AWACS aircraft during a missile and drone attack on Al Kharj Air Base in Saudi Arabia, Mizan news agency reported Sunday.

The Iranian agency posted images featuring the destroyed American E-3G Sentry AWACS aircraft.

The head of Iran's judiciary news agency wrote on X, "Some published images show that one E-3G Sentry AWACS aircraft with registration number 0005-81, belonging to the 552nd Air Wing stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, United States, was destroyed during Iran's missile and drone attack on Al Kharj Air Base."

According to the media, the ballistic missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, which is a military air base located in Al Kharj, in Saudi Arabia, took place on March 27.

تصویر ماهواره‌ای انهدام یک فروند هواپیمای فرماندهی - کنترل آواکس (E3) در پایگاه ارتش تروریستی آمریکایی در الخرج عربستان pic.twitter.com/Ox3IlfB8n7

— خبرگزاری میزان (@MizanNewsAgency) March 29, 2026

Nonetheless, Mizan also posted a satellite image to confirm the destruction of an E3 AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control) command-and-control aircraft at the U.S. Army Base in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia

According to Defense Security Asia website, the American aircraft is considered one of the most operationally consequential U.S. aircraft losses of "Operation Epic Fury" and a main airborne warning and control asset from the 552nd Air Control Wing.

The Telegraph also mentioned that at least 12 American soldiers have been injured in an Iranian attack on an American air base in the Gulf country, adding that at least two KC-135 aerial refuelling planes and an E-3 Sentry were also reportedly damaged on Friday attack by Tehran.