The ongoing war between the US, Israel, and Iran seems to be expanding in the Middle East region as both sides are reporting massive losses on the military front. Now, Iranian media reports have claimed that one of the most crucial American defence systems in the region, the AN/FPS-132 long-range radar system based in Qatar, has been destroyed in a drone strike.
Reports citing Iranian media outlets and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ public relations office, including the Tehran Times, have claimed that the long-range radar system was attacked in a precision strike. The long-range radar system was deployed at the Al Udeid Air Base in 2013 and is said to have cost the US around $1.1 billion. The radar is considered one of the most advanced systems deployed by the US in the region.
Satellite imagery from Planet Labs has now confirmed claims made by a number of Iranian-affiliated channels over the last few days, that an Iranian one-way attack drone, or other projectile, was able to successful impact and significantly damage the U.S. Space Force’s AN/FPS-132… pic.twitter.com/9w2OmMMEex
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 4, 2026
What was the AN/FPS-132 radar and why was it important?
The AN/FPS-132 is not an ordinary radar. It is a high-powered early warning system designed to detect and track ballistic missiles from extremely long distances, reportedly up to 5,000 kilometres. Defence analysts say such systems are crucial for modern air defence networks because they give countries precious time to detect, track and intercept incoming threats.
The radar system located in Qatar played an important role in the surveillance of missile movements, especially from Iran. The presence of this system was considered the cornerstone of the integrated air defence system set up by the US to safeguard the Gulf countries from missile threats. If the claims of the destruction of the system are true, it will have a major impact on the surveillance activities of the Americans.
While Iranian sources have said the system was “destroyed,” there has been no detailed confirmation from Washington. However, reports suggest Qatari officials acknowledged damage to the facility, indicating that the strike may have caused serious disruption.
Escalation and heavy military deployment
The reported strike comes amid a sharp escalation in tensions. The US operation, reportedly named “Epic Fury,” involved what officials described as an “armada” of advanced military assets. This includes B-2 stealth bombers, each costing over $1 billion, considered among the most powerful aircraft in the US Air Force.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) also confirmed the deployment of LUCAS one-way attack drones, which experts say resemble Iran’s Shahed-136 drones that have been widely used in the Ukraine conflict. Additionally, Patriot and THAAD missile defence systems have been activated to intercept Iranian drones and ballistic missiles.
Aircraft carriers and guided-missile destroyers have also been positioned in the region, signalling that the conflict may continue for an extended period, as both US President Donald Trump and Iranian authorities have indicated.
