NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Ballistic missile defence

Ballistic missiles pose an increasing threat to Allied populations, territory and deployed forces. Over 30 countries have, or are acquiring, ballistic missile technology that could eventually be used to carry not just conventional warheads, but also weapons of mass destruction. The proliferation of these capabilities does not necessarily mean there is an immediate intent to attack NATO, but it does mean that the Alliance has a responsibility to take this into account as part of its mission to protect its populations.

• Components

  The Alliance is conducting three ballistic missile defence related activities:

  1. Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence System capability

  The aim of this capability is to protect NATO deployed forces against short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats (up to 3,000-kilometer range). In order to manage the risk associated with the development of such a complex capability, ALTBMD will be fielded in several phases.

  The completed capability will consist of a multi-layered system of systems, comprising low and high-altitude defences (also called lower- and upper-layer defences), including battle management, communications, command and control and intelligence (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.

  In 2005, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) established the NATO Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence Programme Management Organization (ALTBMD PMO) to oversee the ALTBMD Programme. The NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) and the NATO Air Command and Control System Management Agency (NACMA) are other key NATO bodies involved in the programme. As part of the NATO Agencies reform, these agencies are now grouped under the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA).

  The initial activities were mainly focused on system engineering and integration work, and on the development of an integration test bed hosted at the NCIA facilities in The Hague, Netherlands. The integration test bed is essential to validate development work.

  In early 2010, the first operational capability, called Interim Capability, was fielded. It provides military planners with a planning tool to build the most effective defence design for specific scenarios or real deployments. A more robust version of that capability, was fielded at the end of 2010, and provides shared situational awareness. The complete lower-layer and upper-layer capability will be fielded in the 2018 timeframe.

  2. BMD for the protection of NATO European territory, populations and forces

  A ballistic missile defence feasibility study was launched after the November 2002 Prague Summit to examine options for protecting Alliance forces, territory and populations against the full range of ballistic missile threats. The study was executed by a transatlantic, multinational industry team, which concluded that BMD is technically feasible. The results were approved by Allies at the Riga Summit in November 2006, and they have provided a technical basis for ongoing political and military discussions regarding the desirability of a NATO ballistic missile defence system.

  In this context, at the April 2008 Bucharest Summit, the Alliance also considered the technical details and political and military implications of the proposed elements of the US BMD system in Europe. Allied leaders recognized that the planned deployment of European-based US ballistic missile defence assets would help protect Allies, and agreed that this capability should be an integral part of any future NATO-wide BMD architecture.

  Options for a comprehensive ballistic missile defence architecture to extend coverage to all Allied territory and populations not otherwise covered by the US system were developed and reviewed at the Bucharest Summit, and the Allies also encouraged Russia to take advantage of US proposals for cooperation on BMD. They also stated their readiness to explore the potential for linking US, NATO and Russian ballistic missile defence systems at an appropriate time.

  In September 2009, the US announced its European Phased Adaptive Approach for ballistic missile defence in Europe. This new initiative was welcomed by NATO foreign ministers in December 2010.

  At the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, NATO heads of state and government decided to develop a BMD capability. They agreed that an expanded theatre missile defence programme could form the command, control and communications backbone of such a system.

  In June 2011, NATO defence ministers approved the NATO ballistic missile defence action plan, which provides a comprehensive overview of the key actions and NAC decisions required to implement the NATO BMD capability over the next decade.

  In the autumn of 2011, Turkey announced its decision to host a ballistic missile defence radar at Kürecik as an integral part of the NATO BMD capability. Romania and the United States agreed to base SM-3 interceptors at Deveselu airbase in Romania, and a similar basing agreement between the United States and Poland entered into force.

  In November 2011, the Netherlands announced plans to upgrade four air-defence frigates with extended long-range missile defence early-warning radars as its national contribution to NATO's ballistic missile defence capability. Finally, Spain and the United States announced an agreement to base four Aegis missile defence ships in Rota, Spain, as part of the US contribution to NATO’s BMD capability.

  Seperately, France plans to develop an early-warning system for the detection of ballistic missiles.

  In May 2012, NATO Heads of State and Government declared at the Chicago Summit the Interim NATO BMD capability. This capability is the significant first step in NATO’s BMD coverage. It offers the maximum coverage within available means to defend NATO’s populations, territory and forces across southern Europe against a ballistic missile attack. The Alliance remains committed to installing full BMD coverage for all NATO territory by the end of this decade.

  3. Missile defence cooperation with Russia

  In 2003, under the auspices of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC), a study was launched to assess possible levels of interoperability among the theatre missile defence systems of NATO Allies and Russia.

  Together with this study, several computer-assisted exercises have been held to provide the basis for future improvements to interoperability, and to develop mechanisms and procedures for joint operations in the area of theatre missile defence.

  NATO and Russia are also examining possible areas for cooperation on territorial missile defence. At the Lisbon Summit, the NRC agreed to discuss pursuing ballistic missile defence cooperation. They agreed on a joint ballistic missile threat assessment, and to continue dialogue in this area. The NRC was tasked to develop a comprehensive joint analysis of the future framework for BMD cooperation. In April 2012, NATO and Russia successfully conducted a computer-assisted missile defence exercise.

• Mechanisms

  The Defence Policy and Planning Committee (Reinforced) (DPPC(R)) is the senior NATO committee that oversees and coordinates all efforts to develop the NATO ballistic missile defence capability at the political-military level, as well as providing political-military guidance and advice on all issues related to NATO BMD policy.

  The Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) is the Senior Policy Committee responsible for the ballistic missile defence programme.

  The NRC Missile Defence Working Group is the steering body for NATO-Russia cooperation on BMD.

• Evolution

  The key policy document providing the framework for NATO’s activities in the area of ballistic missile defence is NATO’s 2010 Strategic Concept.

  The Strategic Concept recognizes, inter alia, that “the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, threatens incalculable consequences for global stability and prosperity. During the next decade, proliferation will be most acute in some of the world’s most volatile regions.” Therefore, NATO will “develop the capability to defend our populations and territories against ballistic missile attack as a core element of our collective defence, which contributes to the indivisible security of our Alliance. We will actively seek cooperation on missile defence with Russia and other Euro-Atlantic partners.” As a defensive capability, BMD will be one element of a broader response to the threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles.

  Key milestones

  Theatre Missile Defence

  May 2001	NATO launches two parallel feasibility studies for a future Alliance theatre missile defence system.
  June 2004	At the Istanbul Summit, Allied leaders direct that work on theatre missile defence be taken forward expeditiously.
  March 2005	The Alliance approves the establishment of a Programme Management Organization under the auspices of the CNAD.
  September 2006	The Alliance awards the first major contract for the development of a test bed for the system.
  February 2008	The test bed is opened and declared fully operational nine months ahead of schedule.
  Throughout 2008	The system design for the NATO command and control component of the theatre missile defence system is verified through testing with national systems and facilities via the integrated test bed; this paves the way for the procurement of the capability.
  March 2010	The Interim Capability (InCa) Step 1 is fielded.
  June 2010	NATO signs contracts for the second phase of the interim theatre missile defence capability. This will include the capability to conduct a real-time theatre missile defence battle.
  	At the June 2010 meeting of NATO defence ministers, it is agreed that, should Allies decide at the Lisbon Summit to develop a ballistic missile defence capability for NATO which would provide protection to European Allied populations and territory against the increasing threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles, an expanded theatre missile defence programme could form the command, control and communications backbone of such a system. The US EPAA would provide a valuable national contribution to this capability.
  July 2010	The more robust Interim Capability (InCa 2) passes key tests during the Netherlands Air Force Joint Project Optic Windmill 2010 exercise.
  December 2010	At the end of 2010, all InCa 2 components – including BMD sensors and shooters from NATO nations – are linked and successfully tested in an ‘ensemble’ test prior to handover to NATO’s military commanders. InCa 2 is subsequently delivered to the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany.

  
  Territorial Missile Defence

  November 2002	At the Prague Summit, Allied leaders direct that a missile defence feasibility study be launched to examine options for protecting Alliance forces, territory and populations against the full range of ballistic missile threats.
  April 2006	The study concludes that ballistic missile defence is technically feasible within the limits and assumptions of the study. The results are approved by NATO’s CNAD.
  2007	An update of a 2004 Alliance assessment of ballistic missile threat developments is completed.
  April 2008	At the Bucharest Summit, Allied leaders agree that the planned deployment of European-based US BMD assets should be an integral part of any future NATO-wide missile defence architecture. They call for options for a comprehensive ballistic missile defence architecture to extend coverage to all Allied territory not otherwise covered by the US system to be prepared in time for NATO’s next Summit.
  April 2009	At the Strasbourg/Kehl Summit, Allies recognise that a future US contribution of important architectural elements could enhance NATO elaboration of the Alliance effort and judge that ballistic missile threats should be addressed in a prioritised manner that includes consideration of the level of imminence of the threat and the level of acceptable risk.
  September 2009	The United States announces its plan for the EPAA.
  November 2010	At the Lisbon Summit, the Allies agree to acquire a territorial missile defence capability. They agree that an expanded theatre missile defence programme could form the command, control and communications backbone of such a system. The NRC agrees to discuss pursuing ballistic missile defence cooperation.
  June 2011	NATO defence ministers approve the NATO Ballistic Missile Defence Action Plan.
  September 2011	Turkey announces a decision to host a missile defence radar as part of NATO BMD capability.
  September 2011	Romania and the United States sign an agreement to base interceptors in Romania as part of NATO BMD capability.
  September 2011	An agreement between Poland and the United States on basing interceptors in Poland enters into force.
  September 2011	The Netherlands announces plans to upgrade four air-defence frigates with extended long-range radar systems as its national contribution to NATO’s BMD capability.
  October 2011	Spain and the United States announce an agreement to port US Aegis ships in Rota, Spain, as part of the US contribution to NATO’s ballistic missile defence capability.
  April 2012	NATO successfully installs and tests the command and control architecture for the Interim Capability at Alliance Air Command Ramstein, Germany.
  May 2012	NATO Summit in Chicago. Declaration of the Interim BMD Capability.

  
  NATO-Russia Council Theatre Missile Defence Project

  2003	A study is launched under the NRC to assess possible levels of interoperability among theatre missile defence systems of NATO Allies and Russia.
  March 2004	An NRC theatre missile defence command post exercise is held in the United States.
  March 2005	An NRC theatre missile defence command post exercise is held in the Netherlands.
  October 2006	An NRC theatre missile defence command post exercise is held in Russia.
  January 2008	An NRC theatre missile defence computer-assisted exercise takes place in Germany.
  December 2010	First meeting of the NRC Missile Defence Working Group aimed at assessing decisions taken at the Lisbon Summit and exploring possible way forward for cooperation on ballistic missile defence.
  June 2011	NRC defence ministers take stock of the work on missile defence since the 2010 Lisbon summit.
  April 2012	Computer-assisted exercise in Ottobrunn, Germany