Drone strike ‘blinds’ key Saudi radar, exposing Gulf air defence gap | IRGC

A suspected drone strike on Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qaysumah airport has reportedly destroyed a key early-warning radar system, raising serious concerns about vulnerabilities in the Kingdom’s air defense network. Satellite imagery suggests a U.S.-made AN/FPS-117 radar may have been neutralized, potentially creating a dangerous surveillance gap across critical Gulf airspace. The loss of this strategic node could significantly reduce detection times for incoming threats, compressing response windows for Patriot missile systems and fighter jet deployments. As tensions escalate across the Middle East, the incident highlights the growing role of drone warfare in targeting high-value military infrastructure.