The recent fatal drone strike against an American outpost in Jordan has raised concerns about the vulnerability of US bases in the Middle East to air attacks. On January 28, a suicide drone targeted the troop barracks at Tower 22, a support base along the Syrian border, resulting in the deaths of three US Army troops. While Washington blamed militant groups linked to Iran for the attack, the Pentagon is downplaying the overall vulnerability of US bases in the region.
Despite the ongoing investigation into the Tower 22 attack, initial reports suggest that the enemy drone was able to penetrate local air defenses by flying closely behind an American UAV preparing to land at the facility. However, the Pentagon maintains that its air defenses in the region remain highly effective against threats.
Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh stated on February 6 that a majority of similar attacks against US bases in the Middle East have been unsuccessful. Although there have been more than 160 attacks similar to the Tower 22 incursion in recent months, casualties have been relatively limited. The casualties in Jordan are the only directly-related fatalities identified by the Pentagon, but there have been reports of dozens of traumatic brain injuries and at least one cardiac arrest among US personnel targeted by the militant campaign.
Singh emphasized that despite these casualties, the Pentagon still considers its air defenses to be “largely successful.” According to Singh, their air defenses have been able to intercept or destroy any incoming rockets or drones at bases. US bases utilize a range of air defense measures tailored to the local threat environment.
One such system used in the Middle East is the Raytheon Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM), which is a short-range system designed to defend against rocket and UAV attacks. The C-RAM is a land-based version of the radar-guided Phalanx cannon used to defend US Navy ships. It is interesting to note that the M61 Vulcan cannon, which is used on both the Phalanx and C-RAM systems, is also found on various fighter aircraft.
In addition to the C-RAM system, the US Army has started deploying the Raytheon Coyote UAV interceptor. This tube-launched, expendable UAV is specifically designed to identify, track, and destroy threatening drones. The army recently announced plans to acquire around 6,700 interceptors of the Coyote system. However, defense start-up Anduril is offering a competing platform called the Roadrunner.
The article highlights that it remains unclear what protective measures were in place at Tower 22 during the January 28 attack. The Pentagon has chosen not to disclose any tactical changes being made in response to the incident, citing operational security.
While the vulnerability of US bases in the Middle East to air attacks has been brought into question following the fatal drone strike in Jordan, the Pentagon maintains that its air defenses are highly effective against threats in the region. As investigations continue and protective measures are evaluated, ensuring the safety of US personnel remains a top priority for the Department of Defense.
