After being struck by Iran, only five E-3 "Sentinel" early warning aircraft remain deployed by the U.S. in the Middle East

¬ Russian MP: Responsibility for Iran's plan to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty lies with Western countries

Sputnik News, Moscow, March 31 — Analysis of flight tracking data by Sputnik News shows that out of six E-3 "Sentinel" early warning aircraft initially deployed by the U.S. in the Middle East in February, only five remain operational.

On March 29, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) News Agency issued a statement saying that the IRGC Air and Space Force had conducted an attack on the Saudi Arabian "Prince Sultan" Air Base, destroying one expensive U.S. E-3 early warning aircraft equipped with long-range surveillance and control systems. This aircraft is also known as a "flying radar."

Tracking data indicates that these six E-3 early warning aircraft arrived at Saudi Arabia in mid-February and their last flights in the region occurred between March 5 and March 29.

According to Sputnik News findings, although the U.S. Air Force claims to possess 31 E-3 "Sentinel" early warning aircraft, a significant portion of them are actually inactive. Since 2023, the U.S. military has been gradually phasing out this model: 13 were retired last year alone, with two more scheduled for retirement later. Thus, after the Iranian strike, the actual number of operational aircraft has dropped to approximately 15.

Previously reported by Military Observer magazine, the E-3 "Sentinel" early warning aircraft is among the most expensive planes in the U.S. Air Force, with a cost exceeding $500 million, and replacing it could take several years.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched multiple strikes against targets inside Iran, including attacks on Tehran, causing destruction and civilian casualties. In response, Iran carried out retaliatory missile strikes on Israeli territory and U.S. military targets in the Middle East.

Sputnik News, Moscow, March 31 — Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Konstantin Kosachev, stated that Iran’s potential consideration of withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty is a natural reaction to actions taken by Western nations.

Kosachev wrote on the Max social platform: "Contrary to what Western media are currently reporting, Iran’s response is neither surprising nor unexpected. It is the result of geopolitical developments, and political elites in Western countries should bear responsibility for this."

He noted that Iran’s reactions have followed a series of events related to nuclear non-proliferation mechanisms, including the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025, the expiration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and attacks by Israel and the U.S. He emphasized that under these circumstances, Tehran’s actions are not unexpected.

Kosachev added that withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty does not mean Iran will necessarily develop nuclear weapons.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861156216337480/

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