Imagery is circulating on social media, and published by the knowledgeable analyst Simplicius](https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/essential-us-awacs-plane-destroyed) overnight, confirming the destruction of at least one E-3 AWACS airborne surveillance aircraft in Iran’s Friday’s attack on the U.S.’s Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia. The aircraft, tail number 81-0005, was struck dead on in the rear fuselage where the radar equipment is located.
Six E-3’s were originally deployed to the region out of the remaining fleet of 16 aircraft. Fifteen more were retired a couple of years ago due to aging and obsolescence issues. I don’t know the disposition of the remaining five that were deployed but the pressure increases on them to fill in the gaps created by the Iranian destruction of the TPY-2 and other ground radars in the region.
