Satellite images of Al-Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates after the Iranian attacks have appeared on the network. This air base is used not only by the UAE armed forces, but also by the US and France military.
It is likely that kamikaze drones, such as the Shahed-136, were used to damage the air base. According to the latest available data, as of Tuesday, March 10, 90 strike drones out of 1,475 and only 2 ballistic missiles out of 262 had reached targets in the UAE.
In particular, satellite images show two hit hangars where MQ-4C Triton strategic reconnaissance drones belonging to the US Navy were supposed to be located. They are actively used for reconnaissance and surveillance of Iran.
Also, two hangars were hit where MQ-9 Reaper strike drones were supposed to be located, which probably also belong to the US Air Force. They are actively used to strike ballistic missile launchers, aircraft at airfields and other targets in Iran.
But, perhaps, the most significant loss could have been caused by the destruction of three hangars where the SAAB GlobalEye multi-role AEW&C aircraft could be located. They belong to the UAE Air Force, which has only 5 such aircraft in total.
Unlike previous hits, these images show characteristic signs of the hangars burning from the inside. This may indicate the destruction of the equipment that could be inside.
It cannot be ruled out that all the hangars could be empty, since all this aviation equipment is actively used in operations, staying in the air for dozens of hours.
Given this, it is currently impossible to assess the real damage from the Iranian attacks. However, if we calculate to the maximum, and assume that each of the hangars had the appropriate equipment, then the amount of potential losses from the loss of expensive equipment can be impressive.
The total cost of the UAE's SAAB GlobalEye AEW&C platforms, purchased under several contracts, could be $2.3 billion - that is, about $460 million per aircraft. If 3 such aircraft were destroyed, this gives a loss of $1.38 billion.
MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and targeting UASs for the US Navy under the latest contract from March 2025 were purchased for about $133 million per unit. That is, if we really assume that 2 such UAVs were destroyed, the amount of losses would be about $266 million.
Cheaper, but no less important are the MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles, they were ordered for the US Air Force at a price of about $ 40 million per unit. That is, if 2 such UAVs were really destroyed, the amount of damage would be 80 million.
In summary, if we count only the aircraft itself that could have been hit, not taking into account equipment, hangars, weapons, etc., the total amount of damage is over $ 1.7 billion. However, there is currently no confirmation that the corresponding equipment was located in the hangars.
But the very fact of the destruction of 7 sites of such equipment at once, at such a large and important air base for the region, says a lot about the air defense and its ability to counter strike drones. It is worth noting that these are not the only defeats on the territory of the air base, there are other affected hangars and barracks.
At present, it is impossible to accurately determine and assess the real damage that Iran has caused to the US and the countries of the region with its strikes. But it is obvious that the damage can be significant, and its restoration will take years as well as require billions of dollars.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: RAF Typhoon and F-35B Jets Fly 300+ Hours Over Jordan, Qatar and UAE, Shoot Down Drones as Defense Secretary Visits PJHQ
