Iran destroys key US radar in Gulf region with airstrike

ran has destroyed a critical US radar system worth about USD 300 million, which played a key role in the work of US missile defense in the Persian Gulf region.

This was reported by the Bloomberg portal, citing a US official.

The AN/TPY-2 radar and related equipment used by THAAD systems were destroyed at the Muwaffak Salti airbase in Jordan at the beginning of the war. Satellite images confirmed the damage.

Analysts at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies have recorded at least two Iranian strikes on Jordanian territory – on February 28 and March 3. According to reports, both attacks were intercepted, but the strike on the radar could be one of the most successful for Iran.

Experts emphasize that the THAAD system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitudes, practically at the edge of the atmosphere. It is capable of destroying more complex targets than the shorter-range Patriot complexes. After the loss of the radar, part of the load from missile defense may shift to the Patriot systems, the reserves of missiles for which are already limited.

According to expert Tom Karako from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the United States has only eight THAAD batteries in the world, including in South Korea and Guam. Each battery costs about USD 1 billion, and the radar itself – about USD 300 million.

In addition, earlier in the conflict, an Iranian attack damaged the stationary AN / FPS-132 radar in Qatar. This system is designed for early detection of threats at long distances.

Analysts warn that air and missile defense systems in the region are already operating at the limit of their capabilities due to massive attacks by Iran using drones and ballistic missiles. There is a risk that stocks of modern interceptor missiles, in particular for THAAD and Patriot, may be rapidly depleted.

Against this background, representatives of defense companies Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation held a meeting at the White House, where they discussed the possibilities of accelerating the production of weapons to replenish stocks.