Iran Strike Destroys Key US Missile Defence Radar In Jordan
News Updated: 07 March 2026 22:24 EAT
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A key United States missile-defence radar system deployed in Jordan has been destroyed following an Iranian strike in the early stages of the escalating regional conflict, according to a US official familiar with the matter.
The system targeted was the AN/TPY-2 radar, a powerful long-range tracking radar used as part of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defence network. The radar is designed to detect and track ballistic missiles and relay targeting information to interceptor systems.
Officials said the radar installation, valued at roughly $300 million, was located at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a key military facility used by Jordan and allied forces supporting regional security operations.
Satellite imagery taken after the strike reportedly shows the radar structure and several pieces of supporting equipment heavily damaged or destroyed, confirming earlier intelligence assessments that the installation had been successfully targeted.
US defence officials said the attack occurred during the opening days of the broader confrontation involving Iran and US-aligned forces across the Middle East, when multiple missile and drone strikes were launched at military facilities in the region.
The destroyed radar played a central role in early missile detection and tracking, feeding real-time targeting data to interceptor missiles designed to destroy incoming ballistic threats before they reach their targets.
Analysts say the AN/TPY-2 radar is among the most sophisticated sensors in the US missile defence architecture, capable of detecting missile launches at extremely long ranges and distinguishing warheads from debris.
The system is typically deployed alongside THAAD batteries to form part of a layered air defence network that also includes systems such as the MIM‑104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system used widely across the region.
Military experts say the loss of a single radar does not eliminate missile defence coverage but can reduce the range and speed at which incoming threats are detected and intercepted.
The strike highlights growing concerns among defence planners about the vulnerability of high-value military infrastructure to missile and drone attacks in modern conflicts.
US Central Command is reportedly working to restore radar coverage in the region, potentially by deploying replacement systems or redirecting existing sensors from nearby bases.
The incident underscores the increasingly contested security environment in the Middle East, where advanced air-defence systems are facing sustained pressure from evolving missile and drone capabilities.
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FELIX MAKONA
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