NATO missile defences pass first field test

Brussels, 25 August - NATO has taken a significant step forward in providing its commanders the capability to defend deployed forces against attacks from ballistic missiles. The NATO Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence (ALTBMD) Interim Capability, which was made available to the NATO operational community at the end of last year, has been successfully tested in a realistic operational environment.

The test was the first of two field tests scheduled by NATO’s commanders prior to the missile defence capability being declared as having reached military initial operating capability.

Challenging scenario

The test took place between 22 and 24 August and was conducted in conjunction with a previously-planned test of the command and control network of the United States Ballistic Missile Defence System’s European Components. The test involved operational units from Germany, the Netherlands, United States systems and the NATO command and control headquarters in Uedem and Ramstein, Germany. The units involved include Patriot missile battalions from Germany and the Netherlands, US AEGIS systems, as well as the command and control headquarters for the US and NATO forces.

The units involved in the test responded to a simulated attack. They received information from space- and land-based sensors about a simulated ballistic missile attack, and executed simulated interception missions against that attack, based on tactical information shared between all of the participating units under the direction of the NATO commander.

“This is a very significant event for NATO. It has, for the first time, demonstrated that NATO ballistic missile defence capabilities from a number of Alliance members, including the US can operate in a seamless manner under a unified command structure to accomplish this new NATO mission,” said General Alessandro Pera, Programme Manager of NATO ALTBMD. “It is an excellent beginning for NATO’s growing capability in this new mission area.”

Under the ALTBMD Programme, NATO provides a command and control system that links sensors and interceptors from Nations into a capability that can protect deployed forces from ballistic missile attacks.

The ALTBMD Programme Office will continue to upgrade the NATO Command and Control System for Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence in incremental steps from 2013 to 2018, to field a more robust operational capability. In line with the Lisbon Summit decision of November 2010, the ALTBMD capability will also be expanded to protect NATO European territory and populations as well as deployed NATO forces.

For further press queries, please contact Michal Olejarnik, NATO C3 Agency Communications Manager, e-mail: michal.olejarnik@nc3a.nato.int, mobile: 0032 475 90 70 40

NATO missile defences pass first field test

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