alt.hn

3/29/2026 at 1:21:00 PM

Key E-3 AWACS Damaged in Iranian Attack

 https://www.airandspaceforces.com/key-e-3-awacs-aircraft-damaged-iranian-attack-saudi-air-base/

by inaros

3/29/2026 at 2:20:32 PM

"Damaged" is a bit of an understatement, if the photos[0] are accurate (positions do look consistent between different photos so doesn't seem like AI to me)

0: https://xcancel.com/TheIntelFrog/status/2038062541511749953

by garblegarble

3/29/2026 at 3:07:01 PM

The US had only 16 of these in total. It seems there is a second one also hit. Last year they had only 55% of the fleet available at any point in time. So they have now about six available now for operations...worldwide...

Much harder to coordinate air attacks without these.

by Betelbuddy

3/29/2026 at 6:12:11 PM

Iran has now released their own images from their satellites. Shows the U.S. Air Force E-3G Sentry AWACS aircraft damaged on the runway.

See update at bottom of the story: https://www.twz.com/air/images-purportedly-show-e-3-sentry-t...

Also reported damage to five refuel airplanes...

by johnbarron

3/29/2026 at 3:27:44 PM

The Oklahoman and Jerusalem Post are also reporting it was a total write off.

by master_crab

3/29/2026 at 6:22:34 PM

Damaged is an understatement, its aft section was completely destroyed and the plane is in two pieces. We only have like 20 E-3s, half of them can't even fly at any given time, and this one was sitting out on a runway like a sitting duck and we've had weeks to learn since those KC-130s got hit in a similar situation.

It's frustrating that we're constantly being lied to about what's actually happening.

$300,0000,000 phased array radar stations getting knocked out of commission by a $50,000 drone traveling at 140 MPH which a $20,000,000 SM-3 can't intercept.

Weeks of 8,000 airstrikes leading to "complete annihilation" but now we need more weeks to finish the job with energy prices skyrocketing.

Asymmetric warfare is a bitch.

by golden-face

3/29/2026 at 3:45:10 PM

I’m not an AF vet so I don’t have an idea, but what’s the over-under that the US injuries were the crew trying to get the plane ready to fly after the alert came in? I think the number of injuries lines up closely with expected crew compliment.

by master_crab

3/29/2026 at 6:16:47 PM

Was hit on the taxiway. See story update: https://www.twz.com/air/images-purportedly-show-e-3-sentry-t...

by johnbarron

3/29/2026 at 7:40:01 PM

Oh this is a good article. Thanks for that.

Towards the bottom they list some satellite imagery and a statement indicating they are possibly using the taxiways as parking.

Still leaves open the question of who might have been injured and where, but at least answers how the Iranians could have possibly hit a taxiing plane — they didn’t.

by master_crab

3/29/2026 at 8:23:44 PM

It is looking more and more like Iran is the Ukraine to the US being Russia.

by LeFantome

3/29/2026 at 10:20:20 PM

Xi Jinping: Does nothing, wins.

by fakedang

3/29/2026 at 2:31:21 PM

"Peace president succeeds again"

by pixl97

3/29/2026 at 7:15:54 PM

Seems to be the "Mule" in the Asimov Foundation scifi.

by __patchbit__