USS Donald Cook and other destroyers form the centerpiece of Europe’s Phased Adaptive Approach program

USS Donald Cook prepares for first ballistic missile defense patrol

Photo: U.S. Navy

"...The Cook is the first of four American destroyers to move to Rota over the next two years, each equipped with Aegis radar system and SM-3 missiles capable of intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles. Together the ships will form the centerpiece of Europe’s Phased Adaptive Approach program, a missile shield with radar in Turkey, a command element in Germany, and ground-based interceptors in Romania and Poland. ..."
Reference: www.stripes.com .

final phase of a planned European anti-missile system abandoned

Hagel seeks to reassure Poland on missile defense

"...budget pressures and the threat posed by North Korea's missile program led Hagel to announce last week that Washington was scrapping the fourth and final stage of the system, which would have deployed a more advanced version of the SM-3 interceptor in Poland and Romania within 10 years...."

Reference: www.globalpost.com .

Raytheon test success broadens Europe’s ballistic missile defense options

Raytheon’s Dual-band Datalink Tested With Thales Radar

"...The test took place at a shore-based Dutch facility and marked a key step toward enabling more European ships to employ the full range of missiles within the Standard Missile family, including the Standard Missile-3...."

Reference: www.dailymarkets.com .

Russia unhappy with NATO joint military exercises

Russia objects to US warship in Black Sea because of its role in planned missile shield

"...an integral part of U.S. plans to create a missile shield in Europe, which Russia opposes...."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com .

Iran's missile tests show need for European shield, officials say

Iran's missile tests show need for European shield, officials say
"...Iran said it successfully test-fired a new generation of long-range surface-to-surface missile – one that could easily strike as far away as southeastern Europe with greater precision than earlier models...."
Reference: www.dallasnews.com

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