Radar is a crucial element of the sophisticated missile interception system, used to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles on their way to their target. The US operates eight THAAD batteries, while the UAE operates two and Saudi Arabia one. This was located at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, more than 800 kilometers from Iran
New satellite images of several key military bases on the Arabian Peninsula suggest that Iran is trying to weaken air defenses by destroying US-made radars that detect missiles and drones.
The radar system of a US THAAD missile battery in Jordan was targeted and apparently destroyed in the first days of attacks launched by the US and Israel against Iran, as shown in a satellite image obtained on Monday.
Buildings housing similar radar systems were also hit at two locations in the United Arab Emirates, according to a CNN analysis, although it is not known whether the equipment was damaged.
Radar is a crucial element of the sophisticated missile interception system, used to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles on their way to their target. The US operates eight THAAD batteries, while the UAE operates two and Saudi Arabia one. This was located at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, more than 800 kilometers from Iran.
The radar system for the THAAD missiles is the AN/TPY-2 transportable radar, manufactured by Raytheon. According to the Anti-Missile Defense Agency for 2025, its cost is almost 500 million dollars.
The image shows two 4-meter-diameter craters in the sand near the radar, suggesting it may have taken several attempts to reach the system, which is divided into five 12-meter trailers. All appear to have been destroyed or severely damaged.
The THAAD radar and missile battery had been at Muwaffaq since at least mid-February and appear to have been hit on March 1 or 2. The base has been a hub of activity for the United States. Satellite images taken before the fighting began show more than 50 fighter jets on the runway, along with drones and transport planes. It is likely that more planes were stored in dozens of hangars, hidden from satellite view.
This may not be the only THAAD radar hit in the early days of the war with Iran.
In a satellite image captured on March 1, smoke can be seen coming from a radar installation near Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, where dozens of US planes are parked. At the site, a tent used to house a radar system for a nearby THAAD battery was heavily charred, with debris scattered around it.
A satellite image captured in January showed the radar system’s antenna unit positioned inside the tent, pointing northeast toward Iran. It is unclear whether the radar was present at the time of the attack or whether the system previously installed there belonged to the United States or Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities did not respond to questions about ownership of the system, and a US defense official declined to comment, citing operational security.
At least three buildings at a military installation near Ruwais and four at a facility in Sader, both in the United Arab Emirates, were damaged between February 28 and March 1. Vehicle sheds used to store radar systems for THAAD batteries at both locations are among the buildings hit.
CNN determined that these two sites stored THAAD batteries and radars, according to an analysis of satellite images that showed their presence in Sader and Ruwais as early as 2016 and 2018, respectively. In the images, components of radar systems can regularly be seen outside vehicle sheds.
CNN was unable to immediately determine whether the missile defense sites were used to house THAAD batteries belonging to the US military or the two that had been sold to the United Arab Emirates. High-resolution satellite imagery was not immediately available to determine whether radar systems were present at the time of the attacks.
Damaging the radar does not make the THAAD system completely inoperable, experts say, as there are other features and configurations, but it certainly degrades capability and flexibility.
In an interview with CNN, NR Jenzen-Jones, munitions expert and director of the research company Armament Research Services (ARES), explains that the radar cannot be easily replaced, classifying what happened as a significant loss.
“The AN-TPY/2 radar is essentially the heart of the THAAD battery, allowing the launch of interceptor missiles and contributing to a networked air defense image”, adds the expert. “Furthermore, it is incredibly expensive equipment. The loss of a single radar of this type would be an operationally significant event. It is likely that a replacement unit will have to be redeployed from another location, which will require time and effort.”
THAAD has a wide zone of engagement, so it can be used to protect a wide area, explains Jenzen-Jones. “However, it also needs to be complemented with other air and ballistic missile defenses, such as the Patriot, to ensure good coverage against different types of threats and provide some protection to the battery itself.”
On Wednesday, CNN reported that Iranian attacks on US military bases and installations in the Arabian Peninsula hit and damaged communications, radar and intelligence equipment, in an apparent attempt to isolate them from the outside world.
Additionally, satellite images show damage to a Qatari American-made early warning radar system in Umm Dahal, according to images analyzed by Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
“Due to security of operations, we will not comment on the status of specific capabilities in the region,” a Pentagon spokesperson responded. CNN also attempted to contact Jordanian and UAE officials.
UAE residents reported increased fighter jet activity on Wednesday. On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France had sent Rafale fighter jets to fly over UAE airspace to protect its military bases. He did not give details about the missions carried out by the fighters, nor whether they were involved in shooting down drones or missiles that could threaten the bases.
The United Arab Emirates has reported a significant reduction in the number of missiles launched against its territory since the start of the war, falling to seven missiles on Thursday, compared to 137 on Saturday, the first day of the conflict.
Drone attacks, however, continue to be frequent and now represent the majority of attacks against the United Arab Emirates, which hosts US troops in Dafra, and is among the most targeted Arab countries in the Gulf, with 1,072 drones and 196 ballistic missiles.
