THE HOLLOW FORTRESS: UNMASKING THE UNPRECEDENTED DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA’S MIDDLE EAST FOOTPRINT

The “Eyes” and “Ears” Destroyed

Iran did not shoot blindly. The investigation confirms a systematic targeting campaign against the most expensive and difficult-to-replace assets in the U.S. inventory.

1. The Boeing E3 Sentry (The “Eyes”)

At Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, an Iranian strike destroyed a Boeing E3 Sentry surveillance aircraft. This plane provided the U.S. with massive visibility over the entire Gulf.

• The Cost: In today’s money, nearly half a billion dollars.

• The Problem: It is out of production. It cannot be replaced. The “Eyes of the United States” in the Gulf have been effectively blinded.

2. The Raydomes (The “Ears”)

Raydomes—those giant, golf-ball-shaped structures—protect the satellite dishes vital for data transmission and military communication. At a single major installation, Iran destroyed all but one raydome in less than a month. Without them, the communications backbone of U.S. operations is exposed and degraded.