🇺🇸🇮🇷 Yesterday, U.S officials said this E3 Sentry AWACS plane had been "damaged" by an Iranian missile strike on Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia.

Looks more than a little damaged to me.

Why this matters: Prior to the attack the U.S had only 16 of these planes and they're essential for battlefield management of complex air operations, such as the one taking place in Iran.

The mission-capable rate for the fleet is roughly 55.6%, meaning only about 8 or 9 aircraft are typically available for missions at any given time.

The E-3 is being phased out in favour of the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail. The Air Force initially planned to acquire 26 E-7As, though recent reports indicate potential program delays, which is never a surprise when Boeing's involved.

Source: WSJ, The War Zone