New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): Iranian strikes across the region appear to have degraded parts of the U.S.-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) network after radar systems in several West Asia locations were hit, according to a CNN report.
Iranian missiles and drones, according to claims carried by Iranian media, also appear to have bypassed Western and Israeli defense systems, including THAAD, and reached targets in Israel.
Satellite imagery and analysis reported by CNN indicate that radar systems linked to THAAD batteries in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were struck during the opening days of the conflict.
These radar systems assist the United States and Israel in detecting and tracking incoming ballistic missiles and drones, enabling sustained defensive operations.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system has been described by Lockheed Martin as a highly effective, combat-proven defense against short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. THAAD is the only U.S. system designed to intercept targets both outside and inside the atmosphere, with continuous capability upgrades aimed at improving effectiveness against current and emerging threats.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday launched multiple waves of missiles and drones toward Tel Aviv. Reports citing Iranian state media IRNA said the strikes and large number of projectiles likely bypassed regional missile defense systems and hit several targets, including areas near Israel’s Defense Ministry and Ben Gurion Airport.
The U.S. THAAD system forms part of the regional missile defense network.
According to the Times of Israel, Iran launched eight volleys of ballistic missiles toward Tel Aviv, forcing millions of people to seek shelter in bunkers.
Satellite imagery obtained by CNN showed that a radar system supporting a THAAD battery at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base was struck and likely destroyed. The base, located more than 500 miles from Iran, hosts U.S. military aircraft and operations.
The radar was part of the AN/TPY-2 transportable radar system built by Raytheon. The system is considered the central sensor of the THAAD interceptor network and costs close to half a billion dollars, according to a 2025 U.S. Missile Defense Agency budget.
Satellite images showed debris and burn marks around the radar location along with two large craters nearby, indicating that multiple strikes may have been used to destroy the system. The radar unit is spread across five large trailers, all of which appeared to have been severely damaged or destroyed, the CNN report said.
Another possible strike was observed near Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, where smoke was seen rising from a radar site used to shelter a THAAD radar unit. It was not immediately clear whether the radar was present at the time of the strike or whether it belonged to the U.S. military or Saudi forces.
Additional satellite images indicated damage to several buildings at military installations near Ruwais and Sader in the United Arab Emirates. These locations are known to host THAAD batteries and radar systems, and pull-through vehicle sheds used to store radar equipment were among the structures hit.
Experts say that damaging the radar does not completely disable a THAAD battery but can significantly reduce its effectiveness.
“The AN/TPY-2 radar is essentially the heart of the THAAD battery, enabling the launch of interceptor missiles and contributing to a networked air defense picture,” N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, told CNN.
“It also happens to be an incredibly expensive piece of kit. The loss of even a single radar of this type would be an operationally significant event,” he added.
Satellite imagery also showed damage to an early warning radar system in Qatar, which analysts say may reflect Iran’s attempt to degrade the broader U.S.-Israel missile detection and communication network across the Gulf. (ANI)
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