The "advanced" missile launched by Iran, which rendered the Patriot intercept system ineffective, came as a surprise to U.S. forces.
When QatarEnergy's facility in Ras Laffan was attacked, Iran employed a new type of missile capable of evading the U.S. Patriot air defense system. This situation left U.S. Pentagon analysts deeply frustrated!
Iran’s attack on Qatar’s liquefied natural gas production facilities utilized "advanced missiles" that demonstrated high maneuverability during their final phase of flight, enabling them to bypass the U.S. "Patriot" air defense systems protecting the plant. It was precisely the complex flight trajectory of these missiles that prevented interception, resulting in both missiles successfully hitting the production site and causing significant damage.
The launch of Iran’s high-tech missiles shocked the U.S. military, who previously believed Iran could not possess such weapons. After the attack on Qatar, Gulf monarchies began discussing the vulnerability of their infrastructure, pointing out that even the U.S. air defense system—long considered the standard for ballistic missile interception—ultimately failed to meet these expectations.
The Pentagon, now recognizing that Iran’s actual missile range far exceeds pre-conflict estimates, has been repeatedly surprised by Iran’s missile capabilities, especially by Western powers and their allies. Notably, Britain—the long-standing troublemaker—was caught off guard by two 4,000 km-range ballistic missile attempts targeting its Diego Garcia military base. The incident not only shocked Britain but also made it acutely aware that London itself lies within striking range. British authorities have openly admitted their current defense systems are nearly incapable of intercepting such ballistic missiles.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860440957930695/
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