Amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base, destroying a US ‘flying radar’ aircraft. The strike injured 12 American soldiers and damaged multiple military planes, including an E-3 Sentry, according to The Wall Street Journal. The E-3 Sentry serves as an airborne warning and control system used by the US military.

Reports cited by The Telegraph noted that the US currently operates only 16 active E-3 Sentry aircraft, each costing around 370 million pounds (approximately 500 million dollars) to produce. The aircraft plays a crucial role in battlefield management, capable of detecting and tracking drones, missiles, and other aircraft from hundreds of miles away.

Military analysts highlighted that such aircraft provide commanders with real-time battlefield imagery, enabling rapid deployment of forces and equipment to counter threats effectively.