04.03.2026 09:42
On March 1, Iran launched an attack on the U.S. THAAD missile defense system in the UAE. Satellite images revealed that the system's AN/TPY-2 radar, known as the "eye," was directly hit and suffered significant damage, with a value ranging between 500 million and 1 billion dollars.
The impact of the attack on the U.S. THAAD anti-ballistic missile battery located in the Al-Ruwais region of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has begun to become clear. In the attack carried out by Iran on March 1, one of the most critical components of the system, the AN/TPY-2 radar, was directly hit.
Satellite images shared by open-source intelligence (OSINT) experts showed that the radar system was severely damaged and rendered inoperable. Thus, Iran has disabled one of the THAAD batteries stationed in the Gulf region.
AMONG THE MOST ADVANCED RADARS IN THE WORLD
The AN/TPY-2 radar, known as the most expensive and difficult-to-produce part of the THAAD system, is valued at approximately 500 million to 1 billion dollars depending on its configuration. The AESA radar system, which operates in the X-band frequency, is considered one of the most advanced radars in the world due to its ability to track ballistic missiles from the moment of launch and distinguish targets outside the atmosphere.
TRACKING THOUSANDS OF TARGETS AT THE SAME TIME
Thanks to the thousands of receiver-transmitter modules located on the approximately 10-ton antenna panel, the radar is reported to be able to track thousands of targets simultaneously within a range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers. This system allows defense missiles to be directed straight at the threat by distinguishing real warheads from decoy targets.