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US surveillance plane split in two at Prince Sultan Air Base
Photographs verified by BBC analysts confirm a United States E-3 Sentry airborne warning aircraft was destroyed at a Saudi military installation approximately 100 km southeast of Riyadh.
The images, initially circulated by a Facebook page covering US military developments, depict the aircraft severed into two sections. Satellite imagery corroborates the location as Prince Sultan Air Base, matching distinctive infrastructure such as pylons, storage containers, and tarmac markings.
US Central Command silent as Iran claims responsibility
US Central Command has not issued a public statement regarding the incident. The BBC has requested official comment but received no response at the time of publication.
On Friday, a US official disclosed to Reuters that an Iranian military strike on the same base injured 12 American personnel, two critically. The Wall Street Journal reported that at least two US refueling aircraft also sustained damage during the attack.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Fars news agency claimed on Sunday that a Shahed drone targeted the E-3 Sentry.
Satellite and flight data link aircraft to recent activity
BBC Verify reviewed satellite imagery from 11 March showing an E-3 at the base, though it remains unclear whether it is the same aircraft depicted in the recent photographs.
The tail number visible in one verified image was cross-referenced with Flightradar24 records, which indicate the aircraft was airborne near the base on 18 March.
A separate satellite image taken on Friday reveals a fire on the air base apron roughly 1,600 meters east of the E-3's position. Investigators have not determined whether this fire is connected to the attack that destroyed the aircraft.
E-3 Sentry's role and operational status
The E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), a modified Boeing 707, is equipped with a rotating radar dome mounted atop its fuselage. This system enables long-range detection and tracking of airborne threats, providing commanders with real-time situational awareness during combat operations.
"The E-3 delivers critical information to air operations commanders, enabling them to maintain control of the air battle," the US Air Force states on its official website.
The aircraft entered service in 1977 and is projected to remain operational with the USAF until at least 2035.
