this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2026
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πΈπ¦ UPDATE: First images emerging from Prince Sultan Air Base show the E-3 Sentry AWACS was not merely damaged, it was destroyed.
The aircraft carries an estimated value of $500 million. The US operates only 16 in its entire fleet, they cannot be replaced.
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/179651?single
Iran has been incredibly systematic and thorough in blinding the empire. Taking out the AWACS and maybe RC-135s is hopefully the last phase. What else does us/isntreal have left besides satellites after that?
That top image is beautiful
Looked it up and yeah, it really cannot be replaced. The last E-3 airframe rolled off the Boeing line 30 years ago. I doubt anybody still working there touched one.
The proposed, modernized replacement AWACS aircraft had its contract canceled last year around the time of the DOGE hatchet job and there are only two extant prototypes with no concrete plans for further production.
Is this the first E3 AWACS combat loss in USAF history?
15 more to go