New satellite images from several major military bases in the Arabian Peninsula suggest that Iran is seeking to undermine its air defenses by destroying U.S.-made radars that detect incoming missiles and drones.
The radar system of an American THAAD missile battery in Jordan appears to have been attacked and destroyed in the first days of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, according to satellite images taken on Monday.
According to a CNN analysis, buildings with similar radar systems were also attacked in two locations in the United Arab Emirates, but it is unclear whether the equipment was damaged.
Radar is a key element in sophisticated anti-missile systems used to engage and destroy ballistic missiles as they fly towards their targets. The United States operates eight THAAD batteries, the UAE two and Saudi Arabia one. It was located at Muwaffaq-Sorti Air Base in Jordan, more than 800 miles from Iran.
The radar system for THAAD is Raytheon’s portable radar AN/TPY-2. According to the Missile Defense Agency’s 2025 budget, it will cost just under $500 million.
Images show two 13-foot craters in the sand near the radar, suggesting multiple attempts were needed to attack the system, which was split into five 40-foot trailers. Everything appeared to be destroyed or severely damaged.
Radar and THAAD batteries have been in place at Muwafaq since at least mid-February, and are believed to have been attacked on March 1 or 2. The base is the center of American activity. Satellite photos taken before the battle began showed more than 50 fighter jets on the tarmac, along with drones and transport planes. Dozens of aircraft shelters may have housed even more aircraft, invisible to the satellite.
This may not be the only THAAD radar attacked early in the war with Iran.
Satellite images taken on March 1 show smoke rising from a radar site near Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base, where dozens of U.S. military aircraft are stationed. At the scene, a tent used to protect the radar system of a nearby THAAD battery was badly charred and debris was scattered around.
Satellite images from January showed the radar system’s antenna unit located inside, pointing northeast toward Iran. It was not immediately clear whether the radar was present at the time of the attack or whether the systems previously installed there belonged to the United States or Saudi Arabia.
Saudi officials did not respond to questions about ownership of the system, and U.S. defense officials declined to discuss the system, citing operational security.
Between February 28 and March 1, at least three buildings were damaged at a military installation near Ruwai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and four buildings were damaged at a military installation in Sader. A pull-through vehicle warehouse used to store radar systems for THAAD batteries at both facilities was also among the damaged buildings.
CNN determined that the two sites had THAAD batteries and radar based on a review of satellite imagery that showed their presence in Sadar and Ruwai dating back to 2016 and 2018, respectively. In the images, components of the radar system can be regularly seen just outside the vehicle shed.
CNN could not immediately determine whether the missile defense facility was used to install THAAD batteries owned by the U.S. military or sold to the UAE. High-resolution satellite images were not immediately available to determine whether radar systems were present at the time of the attack.
Experts say damage to the radar won’t completely render the THAAD system inoperable because of other assets and configurations, but it will certainly reduce its functionality and flexibility.
NR Jenzen Jones, a military expert and director of the research firm Armament Research Services (ARES), told CNN that the radars cannot be easily replaced, calling it a significant loss.
“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 posture,” he said. “It’s also a very expensive piece of kit. Losing even one radar of this type is operationally critical. Replacement units will likely need to be redeployed from another location, which takes time and effort.”
Jenzen-Jones said THAAD’s wide engagement range means it can be used to protect large areas. “But it also needs to be layered with other (anti-ballistic missiles) and air defenses such as Patriot to ensure sufficient cover against different types of threats and provide some protection for the battery itself,” he added.
On Wednesday, CNN reported that Iranian attacks on U.S. military bases and facilities across the Arabian Peninsula targeted and damaged communications, radar and intelligence equipment, apparently in an effort to cut them off from the outside world.
Additionally, satellite images show damage to the U.S.-built Qatari early warning radar system at Umm Dahal, according to images analyzed by Sam Rea, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Research.
“For operational security reasons, we do not comment on the status of specific capabilities in the region,” a Pentagon spokesperson told CNN. CNN has contacted Jordanian and UAE authorities.
Residents of the UAE reported increased fighter jet activity over the country’s skies on Wednesday. On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault said France had deployed Rafale jets over the UAE to protect military bases there. He did not elaborate on the jet’s mission or whether it was involved in shooting down any drones or missiles that could have threatened the base.
The UAE has reported a significant drop in the number of missiles fired into its territory since the start of the war, from 137 on Saturday, the first day of the war, to seven on Thursday.
However, drone attacks continue to be frequent and now account for the majority of attacks against the UAE. The UAE, which has US troops stationed in Dakhla, is one of the most targeted Arab states in the Gulf region and has 1,072 drones and 196 ballistic missiles.
This article has been updated to include the THAAD radar site attacked in Saudi Arabia.
