'Irreplaceable' US radar jet completely destroyed after Iranian strike on Saudi base

The US plane carried technology that helped track drones, missiles and planes from long distances, making it critical asset in the ongoing Iranian conflict.

Air Force Colonel John Venable said that the destructions of the plane is a "huge deal" as there are a limited number of E-3s in America's arsenal and they are irreplaceable, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The US air force only has 16 E-3 Sentry planes remaining as their production ceased in 1992.

With no replacements available, the closest replacement, the E-7 Wedgetail is projected to cost $700million.

At least 12 American military personnel have been injured in the attack - five of which are seriously injured, reports PBS.

The attack, which happened on Friday, involved at least one missile and several drones, also destroyed a several refueling planes.

Damage to the plane appears to predominantly to the back, where the rotating radar dome sits and other critical surveillance technology.

Tracking data suggests the destroyed aircraft was tail number 81-0005, an E-3G Sentry operated by the 552nd Air Control Wing, based at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

The E-3 fleet forms a critical part of American air power, offering real-time surveillance and command capabilities across wide spaces and with already limited numbers in service, the loss of the aircraft deals a significant blow to the US Air Force's operational capacity.

The destroyed plane comes after Iran launched a coordinated strike on Prince Sultan Air Base, deploying six ballistic missiles and 29 drones in an assault that has sharply raised tensions across the region.

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