Iran destroyed radar systems worth hundreds of millions before hitting hangars

Iran struck early warning systems first in its campaign against U.S. military assets, clearing the path for later attacks on aircraft and buildings. A review of satellite imagery and official briefings found that more than 115 drone or missile strikes damaged or destroyed structures on 26 bases between April and August.

The strategy shifted after the initial hits. Once the detection networks were compromised, Iranian forces targeted warehouses, troop housing, and hangars. This sequence of attacks caused billions of dollars in equipment damage across the region.

Kuwait bore the heaviest blow. Ali Al Salem Air Base was struck at least 30 times. At least 15 aircraft hangars, numerous warehouses, and 10 buildings near a residential area suffered damage or destruction. Camp Buehring in Kuwait also faced severe losses. Most of its hangars are inoperable, and its gym was destroyed in March.

The base's limited aircraft meant that gathering places sustained more damage than flight lines. A strike in late July hit a store where troops buy goods. Officials say the garage and dining room were also severely damaged. Six U.S. soldiers died in a drone attack at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait on March 1, the deadliest known strike on American troops in this conflict.

Tehran targeted specific radar units that are expensive to replace. At Camp Arifjan in Kuwait and Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Iran destroyed enclosures protecting U.S. radar systems within two days of the war's start in late February. Portable radars at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia and Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan were also hit.

One radar in Jordan was destroyed. Raytheon, the manufacturer, said the Army owns only 13 of these units globally. Budget documents indicate each costs about half a billion dollars. Another radar in Qatar was damaged, though it is unclear if it was destroyed. That unit was part of a 2013 deal valued at $1.1 billion and appears to have been the only one in the region.

After disabling these sensors, Iran launched more than 50 successful strikes on 18 locations in the first month of the war. Targets included refueling aircraft, communication systems, fuel bunkers, and troop accommodations. A strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in March damaged the back half of a Boeing E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft. It also hit two aerial refueling tankers.

A Congressional Research Service report updated in October states that 15 U.S. aircraft were damaged on regional bases. Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates was hit frequently early in the conflict. Damage there included aircraft hangars, an early warning radar system, and surveillance drones.

The U.S. military has provided few details on the toll of the conflict. Central Command declined to comment on the damage, citing operational security. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said U.S. forces and bases are well protected. He added that service members in the region have everything they need to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.

Raphael Cohen, director of the National Security Program at the RAND School of Public Policy, noted that modern warfare makes militaries susceptible to large-scale, cheap drone attacks. He described the situation as a wake-up call for the United States. Two regional officials say the U.S. has moved many assets, including aircraft and air defense systems, out of the Persian Gulf.