Background
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded in Washington, DC in 1949. The original purpose of the Alliance was for the guaranteed protection of Europe, by the American military, against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the main threat to the security of Europe is gone, but many other threats still exist.
Today NATO is comprised of 28 member states, all of whom are still united for the common security of each member.
In 1999, NATO’s Strategic Concept recognized the need for missile defense to counter nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.
At the Prague summit in 2002 it was agreed that a new NATO Missile Defense Feasibility Study will explore opportunities to examine options for protecting its territory, forces and population against the wide scope of emerging threats. From this came the NATO Active Layered Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD) for the protection of deployed forces, program to be launched in 2005.
At the Bucharest summit in 2008, member states concluded that missile defense proliferation is an increasing threat and missile defenses are an important part of an effective response.
The Alliance also considered the technical details and political and military implications of the proposed US missile defense system in Europe. Allied leaders recognized that the planned deployment of European-based US missile defense assets would help protect Allies, and agreed that this capability should be an integral part of any future NATO-wide missile defense architecture.
Current Developments
NATO's 2012 Summit in Chicago, planned to be held May 20-21, will aim to continue development of European missile defense and form closer ties with Russia.
On September 14, 2011 Turkey agreed to host a NATO Early Warning Radar.
At the November 2010 NATO Summit in Lisbon, NATO’s leaders decided that the scope of the current Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD) program’s command, control and communication capabilities will be expanded beyond the capability to protect forces to also include NATO European populations and territory. Also, the United States’ European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) and other possible national contributions were welcomed as a valuable national contribution to the NATO missile defense architecture. NATO’s missile defense strategies include:
The Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense System capability
The aim of ALTBMD is to protect NATO-deployed forces against short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats up to 3000-kilometer range.
The completed capability will be comprised of low and high-altitude defenses, including battle management, communications, command and control (BMC3I), early warning sensors, radars and various interceptors. NATO member countries will provide the sensors and weapon systems, while NATO will develop the BMC3I segment and facilitate the integration of all these elements into a coherent and effective architecture. The complete lower-layer and upper-layer capability will be fielded in the 2018 timeframe.
Missile Defense for the protection of NATO territory
At the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, the Allies agreed that an expanded theatre missile defense program could form the command, control and communications necessary for a missile defense system.
In March 2011, Defense Ministers reviewed progress on the consultation, command and control arrangements encompassing roles and responsibilities of relevant NATO bodies during peacetime, crisis and conflict.
In June 2011, Defense Ministers approved the NATO ballistic missile defense action plan, which provides a comprehensive overview of the key actions and Council decisions required to implement the NATO ballistic missile defense capability over the next decade.
Missile Defense cooperation with Russia
NATO and Russia are also examining possible areas for cooperation on territorial missile defense. At the Lisbon Summit, the NATO- Russia Council (NRC) agreed to discuss pursuing missile defense cooperation. They agreed on a joint ballistic missile threat assessment, and to continue dialogue in this area. The NRC would also resume theatre missile defense cooperation. The NRC was tasked to develop a comprehensive joint analysis of the future framework for missile defense cooperation.
At the November 2010 NATO Summit in Lisbon, NATO’s leaders decided that the scope of the current Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD) program’s command, control and communication capabilities will be expanded beyond the capability to protect forces to also include NATO European populations and territory. Also, the United States’ European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) and other possible national contributions were welcomed as a valuable national contribution to the NATO missile defense architecture. NATO’s missile defense strategies include:
The Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense System capability
The aim of ALTBMD is to protect NATO-deployed forces against short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats up to 3000-kilometer range.
The completed capability will be comprised of low and high-altitude defenses, including battle management, communications, command and control (BMC3I), early warning sensors, radars and various interceptors. NATO member countries will provide the sensors and weapon systems, while NATO will develop the BMC3I segment and facilitate the integration of all these elements into a coherent and effective architecture. The complete lower-layer and upper-layer capability will be fielded in the 2018 timeframe.
Missile Defense for the protection of NATO territory
At the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, the Allies agreed that an expanded theatre missile defense program could form the command, control and communications necessary for a missile defense system.
In March 2011, Defense Ministers reviewed progress on the consultation, command and control arrangements encompassing roles and responsibilities of relevant NATO bodies during peacetime, crisis and conflict.
In June 2011, Defense Ministers approved the NATO ballistic missile defense action plan, which provides a comprehensive overview of the key actions and Council decisions required to implement the NATO ballistic missile defense capability over the next decade.
Missile Defense cooperation with Russia
NATO and Russia are also examining possible areas for cooperation on territorial missile defense. At the Lisbon Summit, the NATO- Russia Council (NRC) agreed to discuss pursuing missile defense cooperation. They agreed on a joint ballistic missile threat assessment, and to continue dialogue in this area. The NRC would also resume theatre missile defense cooperation. The NRC was tasked to develop a comprehensive joint analysis of the future framework for missile defense cooperation.