Iran has destroyed a critical American radar system valued at approximately $300 million, which was used to operate the THAAD missile defense system in the Persian Gulf region.
According to Hvylya, a US government official familiar with the situation reported the loss, as first detailed by Bloomberg.
Satellite imagery confirmed the destruction of the AN/TPY-2 radar, manufactured by RTX Corporation, along with its auxiliary equipment at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The strike occurred during the initial days of hostilities. Data from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) indicates two suspected Iranian strikes on Jordan on February 28 and March 3. While reports suggest both attacks were intercepted, the radar unit was nonetheless rendered inoperable, sending a serious signal to Washington and its regional partners.
"If confirmed, the strike on the THAAD radar would be one of Iran's most successful attacks of the entire conflict," said Ryan Brobst, research analyst at the FDD's Center on Military and Political Power. He noted that while the US and its allies possess other radar systems to provide some coverage, experts warn that these can only partially compensate for the loss.
The THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at the edge of the atmosphere. Unlike Patriot systems, which have a shorter range, THAAD handles significantly more complex and high-speed targets. The loss of the AN/TPY-2 radar is critical because the primary burden of interception now shifts to Patriot systems, which are already facing a shortage of PAC-3 interceptor missiles. Essentially, a vital and powerful link in the regional defense chain has been severed.
The United States operates only eight THAAD batteries worldwide, including deployments in South Korea and Guam. A single battery costs about $1 billion, with the radar accounting for nearly a third of that price. Tom Karako, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), described the system as a "rare strategic asset" and called its loss a "major blow." He noted that while the Army's requirement was set at nine batteries back in 2012, that goal was never met, meaning there are no spare units in reserve.
Each THAAD battery consists of 90 personnel, six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptor missiles, the AN/TPY-2 radar, and a fire control system. A single Lockheed Martin interceptor costs roughly $13 million. The destruction of the radar is not merely a technical failure but the removal of a defense tool equivalent to the entire military budget of a small nation.
This incident follows a previous attack in which Iran damaged a stationary AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar in Qatar. Together, these strikes suggest a systematic campaign against US radar infrastructure in the region rather than isolated incidents.
Air and missile defense systems in the Persian Gulf are under immense pressure due to large-scale Iranian drone and missile volleys. Concerns are mounting that stocks of THAAD and PAC-3 interceptors could soon reach critically low levels. On Friday, executives from major defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and RTX, met at the White House as the Pentagon pushes for an urgent acceleration in weapons production.
Earlier, the President of Iran admitted to losing control over the military and issued an apology to neighboring countries.