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US assesses European missile shield sites

01 May 2004

The USA is discussing with European countries the possibility of basing long range anti-missile interceptors in Europe, formally against ballistic missiles of countries like Iran, Syria and North Korea, but in the long term also directed against Russia. The plan is to establish first an initial, rudimentary shield by the end of this year to protect the US homeland. This system will comprise interceptors based at two sites on the US West Coast, in California and Alaska, along with satellite sensors and terrestrial-based radar. A third interceptor site in Europe is planned in 2006 to shield Europe itself and additional capacity for shielding the US. The US administration is negotiating with Poland about placing this site in Central Europe. There are parallel talks with Poland and the Czech republic about two or three additional radar stations in southern Poland and the Czech Republic as part of the missile shield project. But also, Britain is not excluded, possibly for a second European site later on. An interceptor site will consist of 10 three-staged ground-based anti-missile missiles in a large reinforced underground silo. In 2003 the UK signed already a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US, whereby the US got permission to upgrade the early-warning radar at Fylingdales in northern England for ballistic missile defence by 2005. Consultations between the US and Denmark about the upgrading of the early warning radar at Thule in Greenland continue.

Jane's Defence Weekly (JDW) 5.5.04 (Michael Sirak), Guardian 13.7.04 (Ian Traynor)