WASHINGTON (Dispatches) – The United States has confirmed that Iran destroyed a sophisticated radar system valued at $300 million at a Jordanian air base in the opening days of the conflict, Reuters reported.
The AN/TPY-2 radar, a critical component of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, was hit at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. The destruction was first reported by CNN, which analyzed commercial satellite imagery of the site.
The radar is produced by RTX Corp. (formerly Raytheon). According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), each THAAD battery costs approximately $1 billion, with the radar accounting for about $300 million of that total.
The loss of the radar forces a greater reliance on Patriot missile systems for interception duties, for which PAC-3 interceptor missiles are already in short supply. The U.S. has only eight THAAD systems globally, including deployments in South Korea and Guam. The destruction at the Jordanian base, located over 500 miles from Iran, underscores the reach of Tehran’s strike capabilities.
Tom Karako, a missile defense expert with CSIS, said the Army’s current force of eight THAAD batteries is already below the requirement of nine set in 2012. “There aren’t exactly any spare TPY-2 lying around,” he added.
Reuters said its satellite imagery analysis shows similar damage at two locations in the United Arab Emirates near Ruwais and Sader between February 28 and March 1. At these sites, buildings housing radar-related infrastructure were struck. The damage included pull-through vehicle sheds typically used to store radar systems linked to THAAD batteries.
Earlier in the war, a separate AN/FPS-132 early warning radar in Qatar was also damaged during an Iranian attack, according to research from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the strikes, stating they were part of its expanding “Operation True Promise 4.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the IRGC announced that “with the successful destruction of more than seven advanced radars, the eyes of the U.S. and the usurping Zionist regime in the region have been blinded.”
The AN/TPY-2 radar destroyed in Jordan is a mobile, X-band radar designed to detect and track threats at long ranges. It provides the precision targeting data necessary for THAAD interceptors to engage incoming missiles. The system consists of a large phased-array antenna mounted on a mobile platform, along with cooling equipment and power generation units. The entire system requires multiple heavy trucks for transport and specialized personnel to operate.
The confirmed destruction of the $300 million radar represents the single most expensive piece of U.S. military equipment
lost in the war to date. The THAAD system at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base provided missile defense coverage for Jordan and parts of neighboring countries.
The IRGC has released footage of drone and missile strikes targeting radar installations across the region. The force has vowed to continue targeting U.S. radar infrastructure, describing it as the “eyes and ears” of American military power in West Asia.
The damaged facilities in the UAE and Qatar, combined with the destroyed radar in Jordan, bring to eight the number of U.S. radar systems hit since the war began, according to IRGC statements.
The AN/TPY-2 radar uses X-band frequencies that allow for high-resolution target tracking and discrimination between warheads and decoys. Each system requires a crew of approximately 30 personnel to operate and maintain. The radar’s range exceeds 1,000 kilometers depending on the target size and altitude.
Reference:kayhan.ir
