Middle East Defence & Security

crest

Active Member
Air and Space Forces Magazine reporting, that as well as multiple KC-135s being damaged, an E-3 AWACs has suffered significant damage
in the latest attack on Prince Sultan Air Base.

The AWACS is a bid deal Iran has systematically been taking out radars to the point e-3s are required to fill holes in what was once a dence network of layered capacity. The tankers aswell are still imop the linchpin of the u.s attack at least so long as Iran has ballistic and long range drone capacity.

Also worrisome is Iraq and Yemen. Yemen obviously due to there ability to further constrict shipping and Iraq due to there many other factors like support for proxies, ability to counter threaten any Gulf states, and of course attacks from there land. Well Iraq hasn't declared war it is imop in a defacto state of low level kinetic war with the u.s at this point.

NATO I think is unsupportive mostly due to trumps own actions in trade, support for Ukraine,threats,ect
Israel is objectively a counterproductive alli, when trump talks of de-escalation Israel reap new with provocative attacks on critical infrastructure like the gas fields or dangerously the nuclear sites

I think the big question here is how deep is Iran's ability to continue sending missiles at these ranges. Or potentially the world needing the oil to flow (tho I suspect Iran will continue to allow exports selectively and de-escalat that risk as needed)

For the u.s it's really a question of how to open the straits or a deal that will critically involve the u.s not lossing it's presence in the region as the exchange of oil in non u.s dollers is imop the biggest threat to the u.s in this whole mess of a completely avoidable situation
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Air and Space Forces Magazine reporting, that as well as multiple KC-135s being damaged, an E-3 AWACs has suffered significant damage
in the latest attack on Prince Sultan Air Base.

Is this a second attack that hit some KC-135s? Or is that the same one, but we now have information about an E-3 getting hit?
 

crest

Active Member

Same attack there is also other sources if you don't consider this one reliable there is also the wall street journal. It's unknown how many kc-135 were hit once is clearly destroyed. Also no idea the severity of the damage to the e-3 but as far as I understand anything not minor on that platform is critical or at the very least difficult and time consuming to replace

 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member

crest

Active Member
While the casualty count is relatively low, Iran has done surprising amounts of damage to high value US military assets. It makes one wonder what happens if Iran refuses to deal and simply continues as is.
It makes me wonder how long the u.s can logistically keep this up. Especially if they plan on expanding to ground operations. And in light of the expanding battlefield around them and dependence of alies on u.s for sustainability.
Right now a significant portion of u.s assets are essentially legacy systems that the u.s has not been able to replace in effective numbers. Well I have immense respect for the u.s logistical ability I do have serious concerns over there ability to keep those fleets running at this pace let alone increasing it.

Keep in mind I'm speaking in the context of the u.s not moving to a wartime economy. There is of course the counter point of Iran being able to sustain prolonged operations but, I'm basing this on the assumption they can as real information on that subject is beyond my pay grade. And wishful thinking does little to help at least when what I can see suggests Iran is managing this quite well for a nation that is under bombardment, tho notably not under seige as trade continues at least at a moderate level

Edit.
I completely forgot to mention this is also in context of the closing of the strait and its impact on the u.s. The oil shortages haven't even truly started yet let alone the refined products. Logistically and financially the longer that remains the case the harder it will be for the u.s on both those fronts. And Infact may require the u.s to restrict fuel sales abroad in order to sustain the immense volumes the currently require daily
 
Last edited:

crest

Active Member

Very notable quote in this article the IRGC claims it will not longer limit itself to reciprocal attacks. That beyond a certain threshold it will respond with more variety I guess is the implication there. If true, and there is no reason to doubt it this is makes the war imop alot more risky as far as escalation goes what was once predictable is now less so and subject to overreacting. Intentional or otherwise looking at you Israel personally if true I think this is a bad idea for Iran for various reasons
 

hauritz

Well-Known Member
While the casualty count is relatively low, Iran has done surprising amounts of damage to high value US military assets. It makes one wonder what happens if Iran refuses to deal and simply continues as is.
It makes me wonder how long marines would survive against persistent drone attacks on Kharg Island. That low casualty count would go through the roof.
 
Top