The imagery affords a better take a look at the injury to the large phased-array AN/FPS-132 radar struck throughout Iran’s assault on Qatar final month.
Newly printed pictures by Al Jazeera circulated on-line supply the clearest view but t0 the injury sustained by the U.S.-made AN/FPS-132 Block 5 (SSPARS) ballistic missile early-warning radar in Qatar which was hit by an Iranian retaliatory strike final month.
The radar advanced in Qatar, a high-value fixed-site phased-array system that varieties a part of the Gulf’s wider missile warning structure, is positioned at Al Udeid Air Base, a key U.S. base within the area that has been focused a number of occasions by Tehran’s missiles throughout the battle sparked by the U.S. and Israeli air marketing campaign towards Iran.
Pictures printed by Al Jazeera for the primary time reveal injury brought on by Iranian strikes on the U.S.-made AN/FPS-132 Block 5 (SSPARS) ballistic missile early warning radar in Qatar.
The injury seems to be extra in depth than what’s seen in satellite tv for pc imagery. pic.twitter.com/tfuxzIna7J
— Egypt’s Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) April 10, 2026
Though the pictures themselves don’t permit to evaluate the complete extent of the injury or the radar’s present operational standing, they seem in step with earlier reporting, based mostly on satellite tv for pc imagery, that recommended a minimum of a part of the radar set up had been hit. Earlier evaluation had pointed to wreck to at least one face of the radar, with particles and indicators in step with firefighting exercise seen on the web site.
Satellite tv for pc imagery from Planet seems to substantiate that latest Iranian strikes have broken a U.S.-made AN/FPS-132 Block 5 (SSPARS) ballistic missile early warning radar in Qatar.
The system is valued at roughly $1.1 billion. pic.twitter.com/F8Q3G9S9cc
— Egypt’s Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) March 3, 2026
Once more, the pictures present burnt elements and wiring, and whereas the injury is obvious, it’s not possible to find out whether or not the radar may be repaired or how lengthy the repairs would take, and warning stays obligatory. To this point, there hasn’t been any official assertion concerning the injury therefore we don’t understand how badly the radar was hit or whether or not it stays operational in some degraded mode.
Nonetheless, it’s value highlighting that even partial injury to such a radar can matter. It doesn’t essentially imply the complete community is blinded, particularly in a area the place there may be important redundancy, however it could nonetheless degrade warning protection, scale back monitoring high quality, and complicate the response to follow-on missile or drone assaults.
The AN/FPS-132 Block 5 isn’t just a radar within the regional air-defense image, however a serious fixed-site ballistic missile early warning system, one of many largest and most strategically vital sensors deployed within the area.
In accordance with the U.S. Protection Safety Cooperation Company, the radar was bought to Qatar to supply a “everlasting defensive functionality” for the peninsula, defend its financial infrastructure and assist the nation counter present and future threats within the area. The bundle included not solely the radar itself, but additionally communications tools, encryption units, help and check tools, coaching, and U.S. authorities and contractor engineering and logistics help. Raytheon was the first contractor.
Whereas some media shops describe the radar advanced as U.S.-operated, the radar was acquired by Qatar by way of a International Army Sale and is subsequently, technically, Qatari-owned and U.S.-made, though it’s cheap to imagine that each Qatari and U.S. personnel work on the system. On the identical time, the radar is alleged to be a part of the broader U.S.- and allied-backed missile warning structure within the Gulf, which means it’s tightly built-in into regional air and missile protection networks.
The U.S. additionally operates an A/N FPS-132 Block 5 SSPARS radar advanced in Qatar at (25°42’24″N 51°15’16″E) with a 5,000 km vary. It offers ballistic missile early warning to each the U.S. and IDF, giving them important lead time to intercept most Iranian and Houthis missiles. pic.twitter.com/w30YzuG08R
— Egypt’s Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) June 15, 2025
In accordance with publicly obtainable particulars, the system employs three electronically steered phased-array faces offering 360-degree azimuth protection and is able to detecting ballistic missiles at a most vary of 5,000 km. The identical supply says the radar helps missile warning, missile protection, and area situational consciousness, putting it inside the broader regional air and missile protection structure reasonably than a slender point-defense position.
No matter, what makes the strike significantly vital is the kind of functionality concerned, a functionality value $1.1B in 2013, that may’t be repositioned or changed extra simply. Therefore, there’s one thing symbolic within the big Qatari radar.
Nevertheless, the assault on this radar web site was not an remoted motion.
BREAKING:
U.S. troopers filming an Iranian ballistic missile slamming into the bottom very near their place.
The Patriot air protection system on the Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar didn’t intercept the Iranian missile. pic.twitter.com/XAtAY6HKDB
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 28, 2026
🚨 BREAKING: An Iranian ballistic missile has simply struck the LARGEST US army base within the Center East — Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar
Unknown if there have been any casuaIties right now.
Growing… pic.twitter.com/EV2Cp6zFIH
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 4, 2026
For the reason that starting of Operation Epic Fury, Iran has constantly focused a number of radar techniques within the Center East area, together with a number of AN/TPY-2 websites, with the purpose to degrade the warning and monitoring structure supporting the area’s built-in air and missile protection posture.
Pictures have now confirmed the destruction of a AN/TPY-2 Ahead Primarily based X-band Transportable Radar operated by the U.S. Military, following an Iranian drone assault earlier this week concentrating on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The AN/TPY-2 is the first ground-based air surveillance… pic.twitter.com/54QyQCxNVW
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 7, 2026
