NATO missile defense system
The NATO missile defense system is a
Background
A missile defense feasibility study was launched after the
In April 2007, NATO's European allies called for a NATO missile defense system which would complement the American
On 14 July 2007, Russia gave notice of its intention to suspend the CFE treaty, effective 150 days later.
During the
On 20 March 2015, Russia's ambassador to Denmark wrote a letter to the editor of
Active Layered Theater Ballistic Missile Defense
On 17 September 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that the planned deployment of long-range missile defense interceptors and equipment in Poland and the Czech Republic was not to go forward, and that a defense against short- and medium-range missiles using Aegis warships would be deployed instead.[12][13][14][15][16] Following the change in plans, Russian President Dimitri Medvedev announced that a proposed Russian Iskander surface to surface missile deployment in nearby Kaliningrad would also not go ahead. The two deployment cancellation announcements were later followed with a statement by newly named NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen calling for a strategic partnership between Russia and the Alliance, explicitly involving technological cooperation of the two parties' missile defense systems.[17]
According to a September 2009 White House Factsheet entitled "Fact Sheet on U.S. Missile Defense Policy - A "Phased, Adaptive Approach" for Missile Defense in Europe" contains the following four phases:[18]
- Phase One (in the 2011 timeframe) – Deploy current and proven missile defense systems available in the next two years, including the sea-based Aegis Weapon System, the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor (Block IA), and sensors such as the forward-based Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance system (AN/TPY-2), to address regional ballistic missile threats to Europe and our deployed personnel and their families;
- Phase Two (in the 2015 timeframe) – After appropriate testing, deploy a more capable version of the SM-3 interceptor (Block IB) in both sea- and land-based configurations, and more advanced sensors, to expand the defended area against short- and medium-range missile threats;
- Phase Three (in the 2018 timeframe) – After development and testing are complete, deploy the more advanced SM-3 Block IIA variant under development, to counter short-, medium-, and intermediate-range missile threats; and
- Phase Four (in the 2020 timeframe) – After development and testing are complete, deploy the SM-3 Block IIB to help better cope with medium- and intermediate-range missiles and the potential future ICBM threat to the United States.
The deployment of warships equipped with the Aegis
On 4 February 2010, Romania agreed to host the SM-3 missiles starting in 2015[21] at Deveselu. The first element of this revised system, the early warning radar station in Kürecik, Malatya, Turkey, went operational in 2012.[22] The BMD component in Romania was undergoing an upgrade in May 2019; in the interim a THAAD unit, B Battery (THAAD), 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, was emplaced in NSF Deveselu, Romania;[23] the upgrade was completed August 9, 2019 and the THAAD battery has returned to its home station.[24]
Other parts of the missile defense system are planned to be built in Portugal, Poland, Romania and Spain.
Also in September 2011, the White House released a Factsheet that reports on the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA). With respect to EPAA's[14] implementation as part of the NATO missile defense in Europe the factsheet notes the four phases outlined above:[28]
- Phase One (2011 timeframe) will address short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats by deploying current and proven missile defense systems. It calls for the deployment of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)-capable ships equipped with proven SM-3 Block IA interceptors. In March of this year the USS Monterey was the first in a sustained rotation of ships to deploy to the Mediterranean Sea in support of EPAA. Phase One also calls for deploying a land-based early warning radar, which Turkey agreed to host as part of the NATO missile defense plan.
- Phase Two (2015 timeframe) will expand coverage against short- and medium-range threats with the fielding of a land-based SM-3 missile defense interceptor site in Romania and the deployment of a more capable SM-3 interceptor (the Block IB). On September 13, the United States and Romania signed the U.S.-Romanian Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement. Once ratified, it will allow the United States to build, maintain, and operate the land-based BMD site in Romania. The missile defense system in Deveselu became operational on 18 December 2015.[29]
- Phase Three (2018 timeframe) will improve coverage against medium- and intermediate-range missile threats with an additional land-based SM-3 site in Poland and the deployment of a more advanced SM-3 interceptor (the Block IIA). Poland agreed to host the interceptor site in October 2009, and today, with the Polish ratification process complete, this agreement has entered into force.
- Phase Four (2020 timeframe) will enhance the ability to counter medium- and intermediate-range missiles and potential future inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) threats to the United States from the Middle East, through the deployment of the SM-3 Block IIB interceptor. Each phase will include upgrades to the missile defense command and control system.
During its
NATO long-term goal is to merge missile defense assets provided by individual Allies into a coherent defense system so that full coverage and protection for all NATO European populations, territory and forces against the threats posed by proliferation of
In 2020, the Aegis Ashore site in Poland had not yet been completed, due to incomplete auxiliary controls for heating, power, and cooling.[35] Missile Defense Agency's Vice Admiral Jon Hill was to announce in February 2020 whether another contractor would be required. By 2018 the Aegis SM-3 Block IB missiles were already on-site in Poland; the Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defense System in Romania is operational.[35] Naval Support Facility-Redzikowo is to be declared operational on Friday, 15 December 2023, according to the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk.[36]
A 2012 GAO report found that the phase four interceptors may be poorly placed and of the wrong type to defend the United States.[37] This capability was planned to be in place by 2020, but this has "been delayed to at least 2022 due to cuts in congressional funding."[38]
Some Republicans including Mitt Romney, Dick Cheney and John McCain have called Obama's changes from the system Bush proposed a "gift" to Vladimir Putin, but Gates wrote in Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War that the change was made to ensure a more effective defense for Europe.[39]
National systems
Poland has sought cooperation with France and Germany in the establishment of a joint missile defense system.[40]
See also
References
- ^ "U.S. Might Negotiate on Missile defence". The Washington Post. 24 April 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Xinhua – English". News.xinhuanet.com. 19 April 2007. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Russia in defense warning to US". BBC News. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Nato chief dismisses Russia fears". BBC News. 19 April 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Europe | Russia suspends arms control pact". BBC News. 14 July 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ Y. Zarakhovich, "Why Putin Pulled Out of a Key Treaty" in Time, 14 July 2007
- ^ "Norway: Russia to freeze NATO military ties". NBC News. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ "Poland, U.S. sign missile shield deal". CNN. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Více jak 130 000 podpisu pro referendum". Nezakladnam.cz. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- Jyllandsposten. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.(subscription required)
- ^ From, Lars (20 March 2015). "Ruslands ambassadør: Danske skibe kan blive mål for russisk atomangreb". Jyllands Posten. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
- ^ "Obama shelves Europe missile plan". BBC News. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA)". Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA). Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Russia hails US missile overhaul". BBC News. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ "Q&A: US missile defence". BBC News. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Nato chief reaches out to Russia". BBC News. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- National Archives.
- ^ "Awesome Aegis Ascendant". Strategy Page. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Vergakis, Brock. "USS Monterey returns to US after missile defense." AP, 1 November 2011.
- ^ Kaufmann, Stephen (4 February 2010). "Romania Agrees to Host Ballistic Missile Interceptor". america.gov. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- JSTOR 43926509.
- ^ Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson (May 22, 2019) US deploys THAAD anti-missile system in first deployment to Romania
- ^ August 12/19: Romanian Repair Finished
- ^ "Part of NATO missile defense system goes live in Turkey". CNN. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ PTI (4 September 2011). "NATO offers missile defense cooperation to India". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ a b T.S. Subramanian (7 October 2011). "India studying NATO offer on joining missile programme". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- National Archives.
- ^ "Janes | Latest defence and security news".
- ^ a b "NATO declares first stage of missile shield operational". Deutsche Welle. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
- ^ a b "NATO Declares Interim Missile Defence Capability". NATO. Defence Talk - Global Defense, Aerospace and Military Portal. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
- ^ a b "NATO decides to activate missile shield despite Russian threats". Agence France-Presse. The Raw Story. 20 May 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
- ^ "NATO Declares Missile Defense System Operational". MISSILETHREAT.com - A project of the Claremont Institute. 20 May 2012. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ United States Department of State
- ^ a b PAUL MCLEARY (February 12, 2020) Stalled Polish Missile Defense Site Needs Extra $96M, 2 Years
- ^ Ido Vock (11 Dec 2023) US anti-missile base in Poland to start operations - Polish PM
- ^ "Pentagon study: U.S. defense shield against Iran missiles is seriously flawed."
- ^ "Alaska’s Ground Based Interceptors to Pivot US Defenses Against North Korea."
- ^ Kessler, Glenn (28 March 2014). "The GOP claim that Obama scrapped a missile defense system as 'a gift' to Putin". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- ^ "Poland Wants to Build Missile Defense System with France, Germany." RIA Novosti, 11 August 2012.