WASHINGTON, October 11 (RIA Novosti) - A new US military base in Deveselu, Romania is due to be up and running next year as a part of NATO's overall ballistic missile defense (BMD) system, the US Department of the Navy said in a statement.
"NSF Deveselu will utilize both a SM-3 missile interceptor battery platform and an Aegis SPY-1 radar platform," the statement reads.
"The Aegis BMD system is the key component in the Obama administration's plan for a phased deployment of a missile defense umbrella in Europe, which is intended to protect US forces and NATO allies from regional threats," the department said.
Originally proposed in 2000 by then President George W. Bush, this BDM system, or shield, named the "Aegis Ashore System," is a response by the NATO military alliance to increasing threats posed by the amalgamation of intercontinental ballistic missiles in the Middle East. The US government claimed the SM-3 missiles will have no offensive capability.
The establishment and assumption of command ceremony took place in Deveselu on October 10 and was hosted by Rear Adm. John Scorby, commander of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia.
"Naval Support Facility Deveselu will be a crucial component in expanding the effectiveness of NATO's overall ballistic missile defense system," Scorby said. "It will also address the threat posed by short and intermediate range ballistic missiles to US, European and Allied personnel and assets throughout the region."
The land-based ballistic missile defense system in Romania will be almost identical to that used on Navy Aegis-capable guided-missile destroyers and cruisers, according to the statement. It is designed to detect, track, engage and destroy ballistic missiles in flight.
To further the scope and reach of protection of the region's defense, a Navy base nearly identical to NSF Deveselu will be established in Poland.
