Strike worth a billion: Iran destroys key component of US latest air defense system
Photo: Iran destroyed a critical component of the US's latest air defense system (rtx.com)
The United States is rushing to replace the THAAD missile defense radar in Jordan, which was critically damaged during an attack by an Iranian drone, according to the Wall Street Journal.
According to the report, the cost of a new AN/TPY-2 radar station could range from $500 million to $1 billion.
Pentagon officials note that this radar is a key element of the THAAD ground-based system, which helps the US and its allies in the region intercept Iranian ballistic missiles in the atmosphere.
Sources, analysts, and satellite images also indicate that Iran is attempting to target air defense assets across the Middle East. The Turkish agency Anadolu previously reported that Tehran managed to damage a THAAD system in the United Arab Emirates, and repairing or replacing the damaged equipment could cost around $500 million.
The WSJ adds that the THAAD system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitude, essentially at the edge of the atmosphere. It can destroy more complex targets than shorter-range Patriot systems.
After losing the radar, part of the missile defense workload could shift to Patriot systems, whose missile supplies are already limited.
What we know about the THAAD system
THAAD is a ground-based missile defense system for high-altitude, exo-atmospheric interception of ballistic missiles.
At the core of the system is the AN/TPY-2 radar with a 9.2-square-meter digital antenna array operating in the X-band. Its range, according to various sources, covers 1,000 to 2,000 km.
The radar operates within a sector of about 120 degrees, so multiple radars are needed for full coverage. At the same time, target information can be fed into THAAD through a shared information network, for example, from satellites.
THAAD system
As of 2025, the US had seven THAAD batteries in service, with plans to increase the number to eight in the future.
Previously, US President Donald Trump stated that on the night of March 8, Iran would face a "very serious strike" from the US and Israel.
