facts on missile defense

Technical Issues

Q: What is the size of the proposed European missile defense installation?
A: The approximate size is 275 hectares (approximately 680 acres).

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 interceptor missiles and other equipment will be secured and we expect access will be generally limited to individuals who work at the facility.

Q: What type of missile defense equipment would be located at the site?
A: Up to 10 interceptor missiles in underground silos would be located at the facility, along with necessary electronic equipment for secure communications, missile assembly,  storage, maintenance and security.  A radar could be co-located with the interceptor missiles or constructed on another site.

Q: Can the installation be converted from a defensive to an offensive role?
A: The ballistic missile defense interceptors that would be installed have no offensive capability.  They are for purely defensive purposes.  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 installation?
A: The total number of personnel assigned to the site will vary according to whether the missile defense interceptor complex will be collocated with a missile defense radar.  We currently estimate that approximately 200 to 400 United States soldiers, Government civilians, and support contractors would be responsible for providing security, manning, and operations will work at the site.        

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.  An assessment will be made in the future to determine if local residents could be hired for some duties at the installation.

Q: Where in Europe and the world are there components of the short to long-range missile defense elements already in place?
A: The U.S. has fielded and deployed missile defense systems to a number of locations both inside the U.S. and abroad to address the evolving ballistic missile threat.   In Europe, the existing early warning radar in the United Kingdom has been upgraded to enable its integration and employment as a component of the Ballistic Missile Defense System.  In addition, the U.S. and Denmark have signed an agreement to use an upgraded early warning radar in Greenland that will be integrated into the missile defense system in the next few years.  Also, long-range interceptor missiles are located in Alaska and California in the U.S., and an upgraded missile tracking radar is located in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.  A forward-based X-band radar has been deployed to Japan, the Patriot system against short to medium range missiles is in numerous locations around the world and U.S. ships equipped with advanced missile defense radars and interceptor missiles are preparing for operation in the Pacific Ocean.  

Q: Some people believe that sites in Turkey or Greece would be a more logical choice to defend against Iranian missiles.  Is this true?
A:  After close examination, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency has  determined that Central Europe provides an optimal location for current U.S. ballistic missile defense systems to protect the U.S. and European friends and allies from long range ballistic missiles launched from the Middle East.  We are currently discussing the potential of locating an interceptor missile site and a midcourse X-band radar in the Czech Republic and/or Poland.

Q: There are suggestions that the installation is actually intended as a defensive shield against Russia.  Is this the case?
A: U.S. missile defenses in Europe are designed to protect the U.S., deployed forces, and U.S. friends and allies from long range ballistic missiles launched from the Middle East.  It is not intended to defend against Russian ballistic missiles.  The small number of proposed interceptors and geographic location in this part of Europe is not favorable for defending the U.S. from Russian ballistic missiles.