Iranian forces have reportedly destroyed a high-value United States early-warning radar stationed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, dealing a significant blow to a regional missile-defence network already under strain from escalating confrontation between Tehran, Washington and Israel.Satellite imagery and defence officials cited in multiple reports indicate that the radar, part of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, was struck during the opening phase of Iranian retaliation following US-Israeli airstrikes. The system, identified as the AN/TPY-2 radar manufactured by RTX Corporation, forms the central detection component of THAAD batteries designed to track and intercept ballistic missiles at the edge of the atmosphere.
Commercial satellite images analysed by military specialists show damage at the radar site inside the Jordanian base, including large impact craters and destroyed support equipment. The installation had been operating from Muwaffaq Salti Air Base near the town of Azraq, a strategic facility used by US and allied aircraft operating across the Middle East.
The radar is estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars and is widely regarded as one of the most advanced ground-based sensors deployed by the United States military. Its primary function is to detect incoming ballistic missiles and provide targeting data that guides interceptor missiles launched by THAAD batteries or other air-defence systems.
Officials familiar with the matter indicated that the radar’s destruction occurred during the first days of Iranian retaliation after American and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure. Analysts say Tehran has increasingly focused on degrading surveillance and missile-defence capabilities rather than striking solely at aircraft or runways.
Military specialists note that a successful strike on such a radar system would represent one of the most consequential attacks carried out by Iran against US-aligned defence infrastructure during the current confrontation. Ryan Brobst, a defence analyst specialising in missile systems, described the potential loss of a THAAD radar as a significant tactical event because the sensor provides early warning and tracking for multiple interceptors across a wide geographic area.
The Muwaffaq Salti facility has served as a major hub for coalition air operations and missile-defence deployments. Satellite imagery taken before the escalation showed large numbers of fighter jets, drones and transport aircraft positioned at the base, reflecting its importance in supporting operations across the Levant and Gulf region.
Damage to the radar does not render the broader THAAD system entirely ineffective, but experts say it reduces detection range and flexibility. Without the radar providing long-distance tracking data, interception duties fall more heavily on shorter-range Patriot missile batteries, which rely on separate radar systems and have a smaller engagement envelope.
The shift places additional pressure on Patriot units deployed across the region, where stocks of PAC-3 interceptor missiles have already been stretched by repeated drone and missile attacks. Defence officials warn that relying more heavily on these systems could complicate the ability to respond to simultaneous threats.
Strategists say Iran’s focus on radar infrastructure reflects an evolving doctrine aimed at neutralising the information network that underpins advanced air-defence systems. By striking sensors rather than interceptors themselves, attackers can create gaps in surveillance coverage that make follow-on missile or drone strikes more effective.
Satellite imagery from several Middle Eastern bases suggests that similar radar installations may have been targeted at other locations during the same period. Analysts reviewing the images identified damage to buildings associated with radar facilities at military sites in the United Arab Emirates, though the operational status of equipment there remains unclear.
Iran has increasingly relied on a combination of ballistic missiles and long-range drones to conduct strikes across the region. Military analysts note that these systems, particularly low-flying drones, can exploit limitations in traditional radar coverage and overwhelm expensive missile interceptors with relatively inexpensive weapons.
Earlier attacks attributed to Iranian-aligned groups demonstrated the vulnerability of regional defence networks when detection systems fail to identify threats quickly enough. Investigations into previous drone strikes found that some aircraft approached at low altitude, allowing them to evade radar calibrated primarily for higher-altitude ballistic targets.
The broader confrontation has expanded across several countries as both sides seek to degrade each other’s military capabilities without triggering a full-scale regional war. Iranian officials have framed their actions as retaliation for airstrikes targeting military facilities and infrastructure inside Iran, while Washington has emphasised the need to protect its forces and allied partners operating in the region.
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base occupies a particularly sensitive position within this confrontation. Located roughly 800 kilometres from Iran, the base lies within range of both ballistic missiles and long-range drones launched from Iranian territory or by allied militias operating in neighbouring states.