Fact Check: "Satellite imagery released in July indicates that a U.S. TPS‑75 transportable radar system was damaged during Iran’s June 23 missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar."
What We Know
On June 23, 2025, Iran launched missile strikes targeting U.S. military installations, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Reports indicate that some damage occurred at the base, notably to a satellite communications dish associated with the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) network. Satellite imagery released shortly after the attack showed scorch marks and debris in the area where a geodesic radome was located, suggesting significant damage to the communications infrastructure (The Aviationist).
The AN/TPS-75 is a transportable radar system used by the U.S. Air Force, primarily for air search and surveillance. It is capable of being deployed rapidly and is designed to operate in various environments (Wikipedia). However, there is no direct evidence from the available sources that explicitly confirms the TPS-75 radar system itself was damaged during the missile strike.
Analysis
The claim that a U.S. TPS-75 radar system was damaged during the missile strike is partially true. While satellite imagery does indicate damage to a satellite communications dish at Al Udeid, the specific mention of the TPS-75 radar system being affected is not substantiated by the sources available. The imagery discussed in the reports focuses on the destruction of a satellite communications radome rather than the TPS-75 radar system itself (The Aviationist).
The reliability of the sources varies. The imagery from NOAA and NASA provides credible satellite data, but the specific claim regarding the TPS-75 is not directly supported by these images. The Wikipedia entry on the AN/TPS-75 provides a general overview of the system but does not mention any recent incidents or damage (Wikipedia). The report from The Aviationist is more specific about the damage to satellite communications equipment but does not confirm damage to the TPS-75 radar system.
Given the lack of direct evidence linking the TPS-75 to the damage reported, it is critical to approach this claim with caution. The assertion may stem from a misunderstanding or conflation of different military assets at the base.
Conclusion
The verdict is Partially True. While there is evidence of damage to communications equipment at Al Udeid Air Base due to the missile strike, there is no definitive proof that the TPS-75 radar system was among the damaged assets. The claim appears to misattribute the damage to the radar system without sufficient evidence.
