Justin Joseph
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U.S. to complete missile defense in Europe by 2018
WASHINGTON, April 15 (Xinhua) -- A senior Pentagon official said Thursday that the United States will be able to cover its NATO allies in Europe with a missile defense shield by 2018.
During a Congressional hearing, Bradley Roberts, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy, told the House of Representatives Armed Services Subcommittee that the United States was installing missile shields in Europe as quickly as possible.
He said by 2018, the system would have full coverage of NATO territory in Europe, and by that time, a second land-based site is to be established in northern Europe for updated Standard Missile-3 missile interceptors.
President Barack Obama has ditched the missile defense plan of his predecessor George W. Bush, which drew great ire from the Russians, and replaced it with a phased plan.
Obama's plan would include four phases. The first phase involves ships equipped with the Aegis combat system and SM-3 interceptors. Some of those ships are already deployed. The second phase involves improved interceptors and sensors to be employed with a land-based SM-3 site in southern Europe.
The third phase would see a new generation SM-3 missiles deployed on land and at sea covering all European NATO territories, and the last phase would provide protection to U.S. soil.
U.S. to complete missile defense in Europe by 2018
WASHINGTON, April 15 (Xinhua) -- A senior Pentagon official said Thursday that the United States will be able to cover its NATO allies in Europe with a missile defense shield by 2018.
During a Congressional hearing, Bradley Roberts, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy, told the House of Representatives Armed Services Subcommittee that the United States was installing missile shields in Europe as quickly as possible.
He said by 2018, the system would have full coverage of NATO territory in Europe, and by that time, a second land-based site is to be established in northern Europe for updated Standard Missile-3 missile interceptors.
President Barack Obama has ditched the missile defense plan of his predecessor George W. Bush, which drew great ire from the Russians, and replaced it with a phased plan.
Obama's plan would include four phases. The first phase involves ships equipped with the Aegis combat system and SM-3 interceptors. Some of those ships are already deployed. The second phase involves improved interceptors and sensors to be employed with a land-based SM-3 site in southern Europe.
The third phase would see a new generation SM-3 missiles deployed on land and at sea covering all European NATO territories, and the last phase would provide protection to U.S. soil.
U.S. to complete missile defense in Europe by 2018
