Foreign Policy: America needs years to replace the radars destroyed by Iranian strikes

“Foreign Policy” magazine stated on Saturday that the US will take years, not merely weeks or months, to rebuild the radar systems destroyed by Iranian strikes in the Gulf.

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According to an investigation published by the magazine, the estimated value of the destroyed radars exceeds one billion dollars, and the process of rebuilding them could take years, not just weeks or months.

Estimates indicate that “Raytheon” may need 5 to 8 years to construct a new AN/FPS-132 radar to replace the destroyed radar at the Al-Udeid base in Qatar, at a cost of up to $1.1 billion. Meanwhile, “Lockheed Martin” expects to complete a replacement AN/TPS-59 radar in Bahrain within one to two years, at a cost ranging from $50 to $75 million.

The larger problem emerges from the new radars’ need for approximately 77.3 kg of the rare metal gallium, the majority of whose global supply is controlled by China, hindering the acceleration of production.

Experts believe this situation puts the US in a vulnerable defensive position, especially with the escalation of Iranian attacks on its bases and Israeli sites, potentially weakening Washington’s ability to monitor regional airspace and intervene quickly.

The Iranian attack is also considered a strategic message reflecting Iran’s ability to disrupt expensive American and Israeli defense systems and pushing Washington to reconsider its security and investment plans in the region.