Recent satellite imagery has confirmed that an Israeli strike with 3 missiles targeted and destroyed a Russian-made S-300 'Tombstone' radar system at Isfahan's airport/airbase in Iran, which was normally used to defend the Natanz nuclear facility. Following the strike, Iran quickly replaced the damaged radar with a similar, but incompatible model, in an attempt to maintain the appearance that the radar was undamaged and operational. This rapid replacement has been described as a 'switcheroo' by various analysts, indicating a strategic move by Iran to downplay the impact of the Israeli attack, especially compared to Iran's use of 300 missiles.
Satellite images show that Israel's strike in Iran last week destroyed an air-defense radar. Iran then quickly pulled a switcheroo, hauling it away and sticking a similar (but incompatible) radar on the same spot so it could claim the strike was harmless. https://t.co/9SDVBwnwA8
According to "The Economist," immediately after the attack, Iran hurried to replace the damaged air defense battery in Isfahan so that they could claim, through satellite images, that there was no damage. https://t.co/6xC7GoRKih
#Israel's strike on #Iran *did* destroy an S-300 'Tombstone' radar in #Isfahan, but within hours it'd replaced it with a similar model -- in a "switcheroo" intended to cover-up its loss. But the replacement isn't interchangeable -- it's unlikely to work. https://t.co/ebF22bZMrC https://t.co/fiSCk5ZRJ4
My new piece, citing @CSBiggers' analysis, explains how Iran kept up its story that Israel didn't hit anything: they substituted a (completely different) radar for the one Israel struck to make it look like the S-300 battery at Natanz is still operational. https://t.co/XHPk9mJOQV
New satellite images show how Iran saved face and backed down from the crisis with Israel: it simply swapped one destroyed air-defence radar for a fresh one https://t.co/gyfcPuyS9O 👇
🇮🇱🇮🇷 Now confirmed beyond any doubt: there is NO DAMAGE to the radar at Esfahan's S-300 site New satellite imagery from today, 22 April, shows for the first time a clear picture of the S-300 radar that was allegedly struck by Israeli quadcopters. Experts had already pointed out… https://t.co/71zujFACMe
Satellite photos taken today confirm that Israel was able to take out a radar system in Iran with its retaliatory strike. And so I say again: Israel was able to do more with 3 missiles than Iran managed with 300. https://t.co/NC0MztaPum
New satellite imagery suggests #Israel hit a #Russia-made S-300 radar system stationed at #Isfahan's airport/airbase -- normally used to defend the #Natanz nuclear facility. https://t.co/ZNoknI2Z3i https://t.co/GM5HqSeLuE