ISLAMABAD: Iranian forces have reportedly damaged or destroyed multiple United States Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft parked in the open at Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia, according to the latest satellite imagery claims and United States officials.
The strike, part of escalating tensions in Operation Epic Fury, targeted the key logistical hub supporting American air operations against Iran. Two US officials told The Wall Street Journal that five KC-135 refuelling planes sustained damage during a recent Iranian missile barrage but were not fully destroyed.
New satellite photographs circulating on March 27 appear to show at least one tanker completely destroyed with visible charring, missing engines and collapsed structures on the flight line. Several others exhibit heavy scorching and debris fields, fuelling claims of greater destruction than initially acknowledged.
Each KC-135 Stratotanker represents a critical asset valued at roughly 80 million dollars, placing the potential loss from this single incident near 400 million dollars. These aircraft, Boeing-built and capable of carrying over 200,000 pounds of jet fuel, extend the range and endurance of fighter jets and bombers by thousands of kilometres.
Prince Sultan Airbase, located in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, had seen a rapid surge in US support aircraft earlier this year. High-resolution satellite images from Planet Labs dated February 21 captured 43 aircraft on the tarmac, including 13 KC-135 tankers and six E-3 Sentry AWACS planes, up from 27 aircraft just four days earlier.
The base serves as a vital node for aerial refuelling missions that sustain round-the-clock strikes in the ongoing US-Israel campaign launched on February 28. Without sufficient tankers, combat aircraft face severe limitations on loiter time and mission depth across the Gulf region.
This latest incident adds to a growing tally of losses for the US aerial refuelling fleet. Earlier in the conflict, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq claimed responsibility for downing one KC-135, killing six crew members, while a second tanker was damaged but managed an emergency landing.
US Central Command has declined official comment on the Prince Sultan strike, citing operational security. However, President Donald Trump publicly disputed the severity, stating most aircraft sustained only minor damage and several had already returned to service.
Defence analysts highlight the vulnerability of aircraft parked in the open rather than hardened shelters. Chinese commercial satellite imagery from late February had already revealed the concentration of high-value targets at the base, raising questions about force protection measures amid heightened Iranian ballistic missile capabilities.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry reported intercepting multiple ballistic missiles heading toward Al-Kharj in the days surrounding the strike. No US or Saudi casualties were reported from this specific attack, though an earlier Iranian strike on March 1 at the same base killed one American soldier, Sergeant Benjamin Pennington.
The KC-135 fleet forms the backbone of American power projection, with the US Air Force maintaining approximately 396 active aircraft worldwide. In the Middle East theatre alone, dozens have been forward-deployed to bases including Prince Sultan and Al Udeid in Qatar to support sustained operations.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has not issued an immediate claim for the latest barrage, but the pattern aligns with Tehran’s stated strategy of targeting logistical enablers rather than frontline combat jets. Such strikes aim to erode the sustainability of prolonged air campaigns without direct confrontation with superior fighter aircraft.
Regional security implications extend beyond the immediate battlefield. Gulf states hosting US forces have already absorbed billions in economic costs from retaliatory threats and disrupted trade routes. The incident underscores the risks to shared infrastructure and the delicate balance of deterrence in the Arabian Peninsula.
Military observers note that repairs to damaged KC-135s could take weeks or months, depending on the extent of structural and avionics harm. Spare parts for these decades-old but upgraded airframes remain in high demand across multiple theatres.
The development comes as satellite monitoring continues to expose the scale of US build-up and subsequent attrition. Earlier imagery confirmed 16 additional KC-135s at Al Udeid, illustrating the massive logistical commitment required to maintain air superiority against Iranian missile and drone threats.
As the conflict enters its second month, questions persist about the long-term viability of exposed forward bases. Analysts suggest hardened aircraft shelters or dispersal tactics may become necessary to safeguard remaining tankers essential for any extended engagement.
This episode marks one of the most significant confirmed hits on US aviation support assets since the start of Operation Epic Fury, highlighting the evolving nature of asymmetric warfare in the region where refuellers prove as strategically vital as any fighter squadron.