Tens of thousands of American troops are stationed across the Middle East, with US military presence spread across dozens of locations, all within range of Iranian missiles and drones.
As Iran continues striking vital infrastructure across Arab Gulf states and destroying billion-dollar American radar systems, one question is becoming increasingly urgent: How do service members know in time to stay safe?
The United States and its allies rely on a layered defense network that watches the skies around the clock. It combines satellites in space, radar on the ground, ships at sea and aircraft in the air to detect threats as early as possible.
It also depends on trained military personnel who process the information and act on it fast. As a former US Air Force officer and now aerospace and national security law professor at the University of Mississippi explained, “Together, these tools form a missile defense network that can spot danger early and give warnings," as cited by PTI.
Satellites provide first alert
The fastest way to spot a missile launch is from space. US satellites, including the US Space Force’s Space-Based Infrared System, orbit high above Earth and look for the heat created when a missile is fired.
“When a missile is fired, it creates a strong enough heat signal to be seen in space,” the professor said. “The satellites detect this heat using sensitive, infrared sensors and send an alert within seconds. This early warning is critical. It gives the military on the ground or at sea time to get defense systems ready.”
That warning is sent to the ground through the US Space Force’s Joint Tactical Ground Stations. Using secure satellite communications, the alert is received and quickly distributed across the wider missile defense network.
Radar takes over after launch
Satellites can spot the launch, but they cannot do everything on their own. Once a missile is in the air, ground-based radar systems take over and track its path.
Radars send out radio waves that bounce back after hitting an object. This helps operators determine where a missile is and where it is heading.
The United States uses both short- and long-range radar systems for this work. One key system is the AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar, which can detect missiles from more than 3,000 miles away. Another is the US Army’s AN/TPY-2 Surveillance Transportable Radar, which has a range of nearly 2,000 miles and provides more detailed information about the threat. TPY-2 systems are usually placed near weapons systems so tracking data can be passed on quickly.
In effect, satellites detect the launch, while radars follow the missile through the sky until defense systems move to destroy it.
Recent strikes have hit key US systems
That network, however, has come under pressure. Iranian forces recently struck both a TPY-2 in Jordan and an FPS-132 in Qatar. These systems are expensive and not easy to replace quickly.
The damage has reduced US missile defense tracking capability, though other radars remain in the network. The United States has moved another TPY-2 from Korea to the Middle East to help strengthen coverage.
Another FPS-132 operated by the US Space Force in the United Kingdom could also potentially support the region.
Ships and aircraft help fill coverage gaps
The missile defense network does not rely only on fixed systems on the ground. US Navy ships and Air Force aircraft also help cover large areas and fill gaps when needed.
US Navy ships carry the Aegis Combat System and AN/SPY-1 radar, which can provide coverage of up to 200 miles. Because ships can move closer to areas where threats may emerge, they can help support land-based radar coverage.
US Air Force aircraft also add flexibility. Planes such as the E-3 Sentry can watch wide areas using airborne radar. Drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper can stay in the air for long periods and track activity below with radar and other sensors.
These mobile systems allow the network to shift coverage when one area is under greater threat or when other systems are damaged.
Drones are harder to detect
Detecting drones is more difficult than detecting missiles. Existing systems are generally better suited to fast-moving missile threats than to newer drone technology.
To detect drones, the United States usually uses several tools at once, including radar, radio signal tracking and cameras or other visual sensors.
“Missiles are fast and hot, which makes them easier to detect with the current systems,” the professor said. “Iranian drones, such as the Shahed system, are different. Their heat signature is often minimal due to using gas-powered engines not easily detected by infrared sensors. Without this heat signature, that initial warning cue is delayed, making it difficult for radar to know what to track.”
Drones are also smaller and often fly low, making them harder to see on radar. Buildings can hide them, and they can be difficult to distinguish from birds and other objects. Some are made of materials such as fiberglass and plastic, which do not show up well on radar. Others move slowly, which can make them less noticeable.
Many of Iran’s drones also do not appear on radio signal detection systems because they are not remotely controlled. Instead, they are programmed with GPS coordinates and fly themselves to a target.
No single tool can detect every threat on its own. Missile and drone defense depends on several systems working together and sharing information quickly.
The United States and its allies are continuing to improve these defenses. According to the professor, “The US is in discussions to buy acoustics sensors from Ukraine, which can hear drones coming when they cannot be seen using other methods.”
He added, “New sensors, better software and faster communication will all help strengthen defenses. The goal is simple: Detect threats earlier, respond faster and hit the target faster.”