Major Losses Suffered by the US After Iran Destroys 'Flying Radar' at Saudi Base

Military escalation between Iran and the US-Israel alliance is intensifying. In addition to retaliating with direct missile strikes on Israeli territory, Tehran has expanded its combat zone by targeting strategic US military assets in Gulf countries. Al Jazeera, citing a report from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), revealed that the Iranian drone and missile attack on Friday (27/3/2026) successfully struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. This base is a vital facility jointly used by the Saudi air force and the US military. Al Jazeera reported that the most significant loss for the Pentagon in this attack was the destruction of the E-3 Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft. This aircraft is not merely a transport vehicle but an “airborne battle command centre” capable of tracking enemy movements from hundreds of kilometres away. Retired US Air Force Colonel John Venable described the destruction of the AWACS as a severe blow. “This cripples the US’s ability to see what is happening in the Gulf and damages their situational awareness,” he said. Without the AWACS, coordination of fighter jets, aerial refuelling, and early detection of enemy drone attacks become severely hampered. In addition to the AWACS, the attack also destroyed one KC-135 tanker aircraft and damaged three others. These tankers are considered the “lifeblood” for US fighter jets to remain airborne for extended durations. With the destruction of this supporting infrastructure, the US air campaign against Iran is predicted to face serious operational hurdles.