India, March 31 -- After Iran destroyed a US Air Force E-3 Sentry aircraft on the ground at an airbase in Saudi Arabia recently during the ongoing war in West Asia, experts cited in a report warned that it could hamper Washington's forces' ability to spot incoming threats from Tehran at a distance.

The Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) was destroyed in an Iranian attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia's Al Kharj on March 27. Photos from the site showed the E-3 Sentry appearing to have been split in two.

At least 12 US soldiers were injured in the attack, Reuters reported. A US Air Force tanker aircraft was also damaged, according to sources quoted by CNN.

The loss of the AWACS is "a serious blow to (US) surveill...