The Iranian strike on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, an air force base that is also used by the US military, on Friday cost the US a significant strategic asset: a US Air Force E3 Sentry aircraft. The purported first photos of the strike in which 15 American soldiers were injured were released on Sunday, showing heavy damage to the aircraft in parts where its radar is located.
However, reports hint that Iran couldn’t have done this without Russian help. According to Ukrainian intelligence, there was significant assistance from Moscow for the strike. “Russia took satellite images of the base in Saudi Arabia three times in the days before the Iranian attack on the site,” according to Ukrainian intelligence information shared with NBC News by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I think that it’s in Russia’s interest to help Iranians. And I don’t believe — I know — that they share information,”Zelenskyy added. “Do they help Iranians? Of course. How many percent? One-hundred per cent.”
“We know that if they make images once, they are preparing. If they make images a second time, it’s like a simulation. The third time it means that in one or two days, they will attack,” he said.
New image reportedly showing the USAF E-3 Sentry destroyed in an Iranian attack at Prince Sultan Airbase on Friday.
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 29, 2026
Matches 81-0005, an E-3C seen deployed to the base in recent weeks. pic.twitter.com/zRVzzkEPeU
He said that Kyiv's spy agency had given him a report stating that Russian satellites had taken images of the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 20, 23, and 25. However, Zelensky did not give evidence of the Russian satellite images or an explanation of how Ukraine became aware of the development.
Authentic image?
The purported images were first posted on the Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page and show E-3 serial #81-0005’s rear fuselage totally destroyed. The image also shows debris all around the aircraft.
Though there is no official confirmation about whether this was indeed the aircraft, the call sign on the tail of the damaged plane in the photo matches that of an E-3 Sentinel. According to Western media reports, the precise hit in the plane's radar area may indicate that Iran used pre-surveillance using remotely operated FPV drones, or with the assistance of a satellite. The attack could also include long-range one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles.
The E-3 Sentry is an airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft that assists in battlefield management and tracks drones, missiles, and aircraft from hundreds of kilometres away. The aircraft provides commanders with a real-time picture of the war situation and allows them to direct assets to intercept threats, as well as manage friendly aircraft.
At least five other tankers were also damaged in a strike on Prince Sultan Air Base earlier in the conflict.
