Iran Destroyed US’s $1.1-Billion Ballistic Radar At Qatar Base? Satellite Images Confirm Damage

Last Updated:March 04, 2026, 12:01 IST

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs shows scorched ground and signs of firefighting. This radar is one of only six in the world and provides critical long-range tracking for the US

Did Iran’s one-way attack drone or other projectile, significantly damage the U.S. Space Force’s AN/FPS-132 (Block 5) Ballistic Missile Early Warning Radar System in Qatar, which is worth roughly $1.1 billion and is the largest radar operated by the United States in the Middle East?

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs has now confirmed the damage.

Iran’s strike and damage

The strike occurred on or around Saturday, February 28. The radar installation is located near Al-Khor (north of Al Udeid Air Base) in Qatar.

While the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed a “precision missile strike," other reports and open-source analysts suggested a low-cost one-way attack drone (potentially a Shahed variant) may have penetrated defenses during a saturated barrage of missiles and UAVs.

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs reportedly shows scorched ground, debris, and signs of firefighting at the site.

The attack was part of Operation “True Promise 4," which Tehran described as retaliation for joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Other reported targets in this wave included the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters.

What does it mean strategically?

The system is valued at approximately $1.1 billion. This radar is one of only six in the world and provides critical long-range tracking (up to 5,000 km) for the U.S. and allies, supporting systems like THAAD and Patriot. Its loss reportedly reduces U.S. Central Command’s (CENTCOM) sensor depth, compressing reaction timelines for missile defense across the Persian Gulf.

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