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 .

What is the Pentagon’s plan for countermeasures if early intercept does not materialize?

Pentagon Mulls Hurdles To Early Missile Intercept

"...The so-called Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) was designed with increments, each deploying new technologies in 2011, 2015 and 2018, and—eventually—the final phase would provide coverage from intercontinental ballistic missile threats from Iran in 2020. ..."

Reference: www.aviationweek.com .

Rasmussen: NATO ballistic missile defence capability is vital

Secretary General in London: Missile Defence - A Critical Capability

"...On 15 June 2011, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told an expert audience at the Royal United Services Institute in London that the development of a NATO ballistic missile defence capability is vital for the defence of the Alliance...."

Reference: www.nato.int .

Raytheon on target

Raytheon's missile-killers

"...Another version, the SM-3 Block IB, will feature an improved kinetic kill vehicle - a nonexplosive warhead that destroys a target by sheer impact - by 2012 and will be adapted to a ground-based system by 2015...."

Reference: azstarnet.com .