A recent Iranian missile attack on Prince Sultan air base "struck and damaged 5 refueling aircraft parked on the ground," The Wall Street Journal reported on March 13, citing two unnamed US officials. The specific timing and types of aircraft hit were not disclosed.
"The aircraft were not completely destroyed and are undergoing repairs," one official added.
This incident brings the total to at least 7 US Air Force refueling aircraft destroyed or damaged in recent days. On March 12, a collision between two KC-135s over Iraq resulted in one aircraft crashing, killing 6 US servicemen. The remaining aircraft suffered a broken vertical stabilizer and had to make an emergency landing in Israel.
US Central Command, the agency responsible for US military operations in the Middle East, declined to comment on the information.
Prince Sultan military airport, located in central Saudi Arabia, serves as a key US overseas base. Satellite images taken before the conflict erupted showed US forces deployed there included at least 19 KC-46A and KC-135 refueling aircraft, along with 6 E-3 Sentry early warning aircraft and 3 E-11A battlefield communication aircraft.
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US aircraft at one of the parking areas at Prince Sultan air base in a satellite image taken on February 23. Photo: Mizar Vision |
Aerial refueling capability is crucial for long-range attack operations such as "Operation Horrific Fury." The US refueling fleet must maintain an almost continuous airborne presence to promptly supply fuel to forces on duty.
Damage to the refueling fleet, even if only one or two aircraft are taken out of commission, risks reducing flexibility in operational plans. The US military will need to deploy replacement aircraft for those crashed and damaged, disrupting mission execution plans. Without refueling, US and Israeli fighter jets will be unable to reach distant targets or perform extended patrol missions.
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A US KC-135 aircraft moves on the tarmac at Prince Sultan air base in 2022. Photo: USAF |
By Vu Hoang (Reuters, WSJ, AFP)
