In a major tactical blow, Iranian ballistic missiles struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 31, 2026, completely destroying a high-value U.S. Air Force E-3 AWACS surveillance aircraft — commonly known as the “Spy Plane” — valued at approximately $300 million (Rp 4.6 trillion).

The advanced airborne radar and command aircraft was reportedly reduced to rubble in a direct hit during Iran’s latest missile barrage. Thick black smoke and intense fires engulfed the flight line as rescue teams rushed to the scene. U.S. and Saudi officials have confirmed the loss of this critical ᴀsset, which provides unmatched battlefield awareness and command capabilities across the region.

The IRGC celebrated the strike as a “historic achievement,” claiming it proves American forces are no longer invincible. Iranian state media broadcast dramatic footage of the burning wreckage, attempting to boost morale amid a string of crushing defeats.

However, this rare success does little to change the dire reality facing the Iranian regime. Operation Roaring Lion — the joint U.S.-Israel campaign — continues to systematically dismantle Iran’s military power. U.S. Marines control Qeshm Island, the Strait of Hormuz is fully secured, Bandar Abbas naval base lies in ruins, and Israel has destroyed key nuclear and weapons facilities across Iran.

While the destruction of a $300 million AWACS is a painful and expensive loss for the United States, it is expected to trigger an immediate and overwhelming American response. Military analysts predict a new wave of devastating strikes on Iranian missile sites and IRGC command centers in the coming hours.

This attack on a strategic U.S. ᴀsset in Saudi Arabia marks another dangerous escalation by a regime fighting for survival. With its navy destroyed, missile stockpiles rapidly depleting, and its homeland under constant bombardment, Iran is now targeting high-value symbolic ᴀssets in a desperate bid to slow the inevitable.

Operation Roaring Lion remains firmly on track. The loss of one aircraft, while significant, will not deter the United States and Israel from completing their mission: the permanent neutralization of the Iranian threat.

The Iranian regime continues to pay a heavy price for its aggression. Its days of challenging American and Israeli power are rapidly coming to an end.