US early warning system hit? Tehran reports strike on $1.1bn radar in Qatar

US radar reportedly destroyed in Gulf

The United States and Israel’s offensive against Iran has spiralled into a broader Middle East confrontation, leaving heavy casualties and the destruction of military assets worth billions of dollars. Iranian media reports now claim that one of Washington’s most powerful radar systems in the Gulf has been knocked out.

Citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) public relations office, Tehran Times and other outlets reported that the AN/FPS-132 radar — described as the largest American radar installation in the Gulf — was struck and destroyed. The system, they said, has a tracking range of 5,000 kilometres.

The IRGC said the radar was “completely destroyed” in what it described as a precision missile strike. Qatari officials later corroborated the damage, according to Iranian reports, signalling a potentially serious setback for US surveillance capabilities in the region. If confirmed, the loss would represent a significant dent in the integrated air defence network designed to shield Gulf allies.

Radars such as the AN/FPS-132 form the backbone of modern air defence systems, enabling early detection, tracking and interception of incoming threats. According to Defence Security Asia, the early warning system was installed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in 2013 at a reported cost of around $1.1 billion.

#BREAKINGIRGC Public Relations: The American radar FP132, with a range of 5,000 kilometers, stationed in Qatar with unique equipment designed for tracking ballistic missiles, was completely destroyed. pic.twitter.com/YfIjz2ypQG

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— Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) February 28, 2026

The installation was equipped to monitor ballistic missile activity and was specifically calibrated to track Iranian launches, making it a critical component of Washington’s regional security architecture.

Its reported destruction comes as both US President Donald Trump and Iranian authorities signal that the conflict is unlikely to end quickly.

In the lead-up to the strike campaign — dubbed “Epic Fury” by Washington — the United States assembled what officials described as its largest regional force package in years, deploying an “armada” of advanced weaponry.

Among the assets were B-2 stealth bombers, the distinctive bat-wing aircraft often valued at more than $1 billion per jet and regarded as one of the most formidable platforms in the US Air Force’s arsenal.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) also listed Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) one-way drones among the systems deployed. CNN reported that the drone bears similarities to the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 drones that Russia has used extensively in Ukraine.

To counter Iranian missile and drone retaliation, the United States activated Patriot and THAAD missile defence systems. Aircraft carriers and guided-missile destroyers were also brought into operation, underscoring the scale of the confrontation.

As the fighting intensifies, the reported loss of a key radar installation illustrates how rapidly the conflict has expanded — with both sides now targeting high-value military infrastructure across the region.