Iran destroys critical US surveillance plane

An Iranian strike on an air base in Saudi Arabia appears to have destroyed a US Air Force E-3 Sentry aircraft, vital for its airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, that enables airborne monitoring of up to 120,000 square miles of battlespace.

Images of the wrecked aircraft began appearing on social media sites over the weekend. CNN geolocated the images to the Prince Sultan Air Base in central Saudi Arabia by comparing them to a satellite image from March 11, which showed an E-3 Sentry aircraft at the same location as the wreckage seen in the recent photos.

CNN has previously reported that an attack on the air base left at least 10 US service members injured. No fatalities were reported. A US Air Force tanker aircraft was also damaged, sources said.

In the images, the E-3s distinct rotating radar dome can be seen on the ground by the damaged aircraft.

The E-3 Sentry plays a key role in US military battlespace management.

With the ability to track around 600 targets at one time, the AWACS crew can provide commanders and combat units with information on exactly where enemy, friendly and neutral forces are and help direct attacks and defenses.

The 30-foot-diameter radar dome is carried on struts 11 feet above the fuselage, enabling the Sentry to give a view of the battlespace from the ground to the stratosphere at a range of 250 miles, covering about 120,000 square miles, the Air Force says.