"In the war against the United States and Israel, Iran has apparently succeeded in dealing significant blows to American air defenses in the region. Satellite imagery suggests that an extremely powerful radar in Jordan and another in Qatar have been damaged. Since the outbreak of the war, Tehran has targeted positions in Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. American air defense assets, communication systems, and critical radar installations are among the targets. However, the exact extent of the damage remains unclear in many locations.
The AN/TPY-2 radar at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base was reportedly struck during the very first days of the war. CNN’s analysis reveals two craters, each four meters wide, near the system. According to the analysis, all components of the radar appear to be destroyed or severely damaged. Citing a US government official, *The Wall Street Journal* reports that the Americans attempted to replace it quickly. The radar system's availability is considered severely limited. The military declined to comment on the damage to the newspaper but stated that it remains fully combat-ready.
A successful strike of this nature would represent a major victory for the Iranian regime. With a unit cost of several hundred million dollars, the radar is one of the most valuable assets in the American arsenal. It guides interceptor missiles from the critical THAAD air defense system to their targets, serves as an early-warning system, and aids in coordinating air defense operations across the region. Three other AN/TPY-2 sites—located in the United Arab Emirates (Al Ruwais and Al Sader) and Saudi Arabia (Prince Sultan Air Base)—were also targeted. It remains unclear whether any radar systems were damaged in those attacks.
A strike in Qatar could also prove painful for the Americans and their partners. Near Al Udeid Air Base in Umm the AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar—valued at one billion dollars—was apparently hit; it is capable of precisely detecting and tracking missiles at a range of 5,000 kilometers. It is considered central to missile defense in the Middle East. Damage to the system is visible in satellite imagery, and analysts identified a significant amount of firefighting water. The Revolutionary Guards claimed to have "completely destroyed" the radar; however, the footage released so far does not substantiate this. Furthermore, the *New York Times* reported the destruction of two satellite terminals at the 5th Fleet naval base in Bahrain, which were crucial for real-time military communication.
Specialized outlets such as *The War Zone* describe the incident as a "wake-up call" for the US military. While *Army Recognition* believes regional missile defense is far from collapse, it fears that subsequent attacks could reduce reaction times and diminish the depth of missile detection capabilities. Indeed, early-warning times in Israel have recently been shorter than usual in some instances. The military attributed this to a "multitude of operational factors." A link to the damaged radar sites has not been confirmed.
Iran employs a mix of drones, ballistic missiles, and a limited number of cruise missiles in its attacks.
It is evident that they repeatedly succeed in overwhelming air defenses, even though most projectiles have been intercepted. It is difficult to predict exactly how long Tehran can sustain this campaign. The regime likely has significant staying power regarding drones, which the Americans struggle to intercept. Six US soldiers were killed in a drone attack in Kuwait.
The Centre for Information Resilience—supported by the British and US foreign ministries—estimates that Iran possesses the industrial capacity to produce around 10,000 drones per month.
As of last week, the US had recorded more than 2,000 kamikaze drones deployed.
The situation becomes more complex regarding missiles. Even figures concerning pre-war stockpiles vary widely, ranging from 2,000 units to 6,000 or more; the Israeli army estimated the arsenal at around 2,500. According to official data from the respective defense ministries and military authorities, approximately 270 ballistic missiles have since been fired at the United Arab Emirates, 230 at Kuwait, 150 at Qatar, 100 at Bahrain, and 60 at Jordan. There were also several attacks on Saudi Arabia, though it does not publish precise figures. The Israeli army recorded around 300 missiles launched against Israel; however, unlike in previous conflicts, the military no longer provides specific details.
Based on the Israeli estimate, this would mean Iran has expended significantly more than a third of its arsenal. In addition, several missiles were fired at Iraq, and a small number at Cyprus or Turkey. Iran's missile arsenal is, in turn, a primary target for the Israelis and Americans. According to media reports, the Israeli military estimates that Iran has approximately 150 missile launchers remaining; prior to the war, the figure was reportedly between 400 and 550. Consequently, the number of launches directed at Israel has dropped sharply—from up to 100 on the first day of the war to around 20 or fewer per day recently. Figures for the Emirates are also declining: while the Ministry of Defense reported 186 attacks between February 28 (137 missiles) and March 3, there have been just over 80 additional attacks since then. A similar trend, albeit at lower levels, applies to Kuwait and Qatar.
Sources within the Israeli army told the *Jerusalem Post* that Tehran could sustain the war for an extended period. They indicated that locating and destroying the remaining launchers—which are dispersed across the entire country—would prove difficult.
Iran relies on sea mines
The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world's most important shipping routes—and Iran has reportedly mined it. Sea mines are relatively inexpensive weapons containing an explosive charge; they are concealed beneath the water's surface and detonate upon contact with a ship or when a vessel passes over them. Their deployment renders a mined area impassable—effectively closing it off to traffic. In military terminology, they are therefore classified as "area-denial weapons."
There are two basic types of sea mines. Moored mines feature an explosive charge housed in a round casing studded with spikes; this unit floats a few meters below the surface, tethered by a cable to a weight on the seabed. If a ship strikes the mine and damages the spikes, the firing mechanism is triggered. Moored mines contain approximately 200 to 300 kilograms of explosive, enough to tear a hole in a ship, a German Navy spokesperson explained to the *F.A.Z.* Ground mines, by contrast, rest on the seabed and typically contain 1,000 to 1,200 kilograms of explosive. They detect ships acoustically—picking up sounds such as those from a propeller—or via magnetic signatures. Their detonation triggers an underwater shockwave that causes extensive damage to the targeted vessel.
The effort required is relatively low. "You can take any available vessel—even a fishing boat or a ferry—load a few mines onto it, and roll them off a rail into the water," the Navy spokesperson said. The firing mechanism then activates after a time delay. Mines can also be deployed by military vessels, by submarines underwater, or from the air by aircraft. In principle, the Iranian Navy possesses these capabilities. According to the Navy spokesperson's estimate, laying a comprehensive minefield in the area would require between 500 and 1,000 mines. Determining exactly how many mines Iran has deployed—or is currently deploying—in the strait would require an extensive search operation. In the Strait of Hormuz, any vessels engaged in mine clearance would currently be easy targets for air strikes.” [1]
1. Teherans empfindliche Treffer: Iran nimmt wichtige amerikanische Radar- und Kommunikationsanlagen ins Visier - und das teils erfolgreich / Von Gregor Grosse. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Frankfurt. 12 Mar 2026: 2.
