frequently asked questions on missile defense

Technical Details

Q:  Can you confirm that there is going to be a private U.S. nuclear plant in Central Bohemia and that the radar will use a nuclear reactor?  
A:  We were told this myth was circulating in the Pribram area in early February.  There is absolutely NO nuclear power associated with the X-band radar.  It operates on standard electric power provided either commercially or using its own diesel generator.  The X-band radar currently being evaluated is the radar now located on Kwajalein Atoll in the south Pacific Ocean where it has been operating for almost a decade using only standard electric power.

Q: Can the radar installation be converted from a defensive to an offensive role?
A: The radar has absolutely NO offensive capability. Neither are the ten ballistic missile defense interceptors that may be based in Central Europe designed for offensive use.  They carry no explosive weapons of any type.  The silos constructed for deployment of ground-based interceptors are substantially different than those used for offensive missiles, and any conversion would require extensive, time-consuming modifications. 

Q: How many people will be assigned to the radar installation?
A:  Approximately 200 people will be assigned to the site, primarily security, system operators, engineers and maintenance personnel.   

Q: Will the personnel be exclusively American?
A: Personnel responsible for missile defense operations will be from the U.S. military but it is unknown at this time if there is a requirement that all personnel be American. 

Q:  How will the fall-out from the radar will be handled? 
A:  Radars do not generate "fallout."

Q:  How high will the no-fly zone be? 
A:  The no fly zone will extend to 45,000 ft. However the Brdy military training area is already a no fly zone of unlimited altitude, so we do not foresee any changes taking place. This will be addressed in the negotiations between the two governments.

Q:  What is the effective impulse output emitted by the antenna -
in kW? 
A:  The transmitted power is less than 200 kW. In comparison, some radars used as aircraft approach radars at airports around the world generate between 450 kilowatts and 1 megawatt of power. An aircraft would have to be less than 4 km of the EMR (European Midcourse Radar) and within the beam radiating at full power in order to receive more energy than radiated by the X-band surface monitoring radar operating at the Prague airport today.  

 

Q:  How will the radar radiation be handled - what about people in the region?
A:  Any radiation hazards are avoided through the establishment and enforcement of the “keep out areas” of the facility.  Signs identify personnel keep out zones inside the radar site and no fly zones are published for use by all aviators.  These controls have been used for nearly a decade at Kwajalein Atoll to ensure safe operation of the radar. The specific access zone for individuals not employed at the locality will be covered in U.S.-Czech negotiations.
X-band radars are used all over the world, including airports and as weather radars. Extensive health and safety analysis has been conducted and is available in the missile defense environmental impact statement located at mda.mil website. 
An X-band radar has been deployed to Japan for missile defense purposes. The radar in Shariki air base in Japan is about five miles from population of about 6,000 people in northern Japan. 

Q: What types of restrictions are likely to be imposed on local residents with regard to access to the area?
A: For safety and security, the immediate (fenced) area of the installation containing radar will be secured and we expect access will be generally limited to individuals who work at the facility and details will be specified through negotiations. The issue of access to the rest of the Brdy military training area will continue to be determined by the Czech government.

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