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UpInArms

(54,984 posts) Sun Mar 29, 2026, 10:10 PM Sunday

Photos show heavily damaged US radar jet at Saudi base [View all]

.webp

Verified pictures show a US command and control aircraft has been destroyed at an air base in Saudi Arabia.
The pictures appear to have been first shared by a Facebook page carrying US military news. They show the E-3 Sentry aircraft appears to have been split in two.

We've confirmed the photos were taken at the Prince Sultan air base about 100km (62 miles) south-east of the Saudi capital Riyadh. Features seen in the pictures, including pylons, storage units and markings on paved areas, matched with satellite imagery.

US Central Command has not yet publicly commented on the incident. The BBC has asked for comment.
On Friday a US official told Reuters that 12 US personnel had been wounded, two of them seriously, in an Iranian military attack on the air base. The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported that at least two US refuelling aircraft were also damaged.

On Sunday Iran's IRGC-linked Fars news agency said a Shahed drone had struck the E-3 aircraft.

More at:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyd07m7e1xo

Or

https://archive.ph/77u82

43 replies

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Photos show heavily damaged US radar jet at Saudi base [View all] UpInArms Sunday OP

Tail number 81-0005, according to another site. The "OK" on the tail means it's from Tinker AFB. mahatmakanejeeves Sunday #1

Someone is leaking highly classified pictures. Irish_Dem Sunday #2

We deserve to know David__77 Sunday #4

Yes we do. Someone else agrees and is leaking classified info. Irish_Dem Sunday #5

Sorry, Trump said this was an excursion, not a war. Swede Monday #32

Trump is abetting Putin. Blue Full Moon Sunday #3

Uh oh...Better Get Maaco Prairie Gates Sunday #6

I think it's totaled, to be honest. Wednesdays Sunday #10

Flo will bundle it with your car/RV insurance for extra savings. rubbersole Monday #22

Flo's or any general insurance Topomi Monday #27

Our previous policy had "acts of god" which wasn't supposed to mean hurricanes. rubbersole Monday #31

Spicoli can fix it. eggplant Monday #33

Holy crap -- that's the radar antenna (or at least its aerodynamic shell; the "flying saucer") lying on the pavement. nt eppur_se_muova Sunday #7

Ukraine did the EXACT same thing to ruzzian Beriev A-50 AWACS with drones mitch96 Monday #36

I didn't get that Note, but I did watch Tora! Tora! Tora! -- I thought THAT was when we learned to disperse aircraft. nt eppur_se_muova Monday #37

I remembered that in TORA TORA TORA... History repeats.. Here is the vid mitch96 Monday #39

Well, it wasn't a monkey with a hand grenade dangling from a balloon (from the movie dialog) but it was effective. nt eppur_se_muova Monday #41

I guess that's another thing Iran wasn't supposed to do, right Donny? tanyev Sunday #8

$300 million loss YorkRd Sunday #9

Tagged by a $20,000 Shahed drone Brother Buzz Sunday #14

Hmm . . I'm no aviation professional, but I'm wondering about that plane's airworthiness . . . hatrack Sunday #11

yes Skittles Sunday #17

Way to go Felon, between you and Putin we'll Buddyzbuddy Sunday #12

Just the "little people" republicans. rubbersole Monday #23

That base is pretty far inland IronLionZion Sunday #13

Parts! BidenRocks Sunday #15

Probably a fuck up in the control tower. The guy directing the planes was fired. 3Hotdogs Sunday #21

The drone must have homed in on the residual RF emissions from the radar LiberalArkie Monday #30

Trump thinks that will buff out. Turbineguy Sunday #16

Not to worry. LudwigPastorius Sunday #18

The WH will claim that was not from Iranian missiles, but, um, you know, insect damage. tclambert Sunday #19

What's the difference between "heavily damaged" and "destroyed"? BWdem4life Sunday #20

Like Kristi Noem's reputation? rubbersole Monday #24

It's just a flesh wound! BidenRocks Monday #25

Well, there goes another $700 million COL Mustard Monday #26

they can't hide a $530,000,000 + loss Nigrum Cattus Monday #28

Bondo is not going to fix that. LiberalArkie Monday #29

Oh come on... PCIntern Monday #34

Flex Seal is what it craves. Kid Berwyn Monday #38

Then wipe it down with a ShamWow. PCIntern Monday #43

I'm torn between - "that'll buff out" and "it got blowed up real good". Probatim Monday #35

Well since this country had 16 of these planes and 6 of them are over in the Middle East area, this means turbinetree Monday #40

Here is a report UpInArms Monday #42