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Briefing: Improving capabilities to meet new threats 3. Missile defence The advanced version of the Patriot missile system will be part of the Alliance theatre missile defence system Contents   1. Introduction   2. Multinational CBRN defence battalion  3. Missile defence  4. Defence Capabilities Initiative  5. Implementing the Prague capabilities package  6. From Prague to Istanbul  7. Alliance Ground Surveillance  8. Strategic lift  9. NATO Response Force  10. New NATO command structure  11. Cooperation with Partners Editorial Note   Important publisher and editorial information about this document Other Formats English PDF (~929Kb) Printable version with colour illustrations Order a hardcopy version using the online order form. NATO is considering an extension of its air defence system with an Alliance theatre missile defence (TMD) system. This system would be deployable and used to protect NATO troops on the ground or a threatened territory or region against shorter and medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles, and against aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other unexpected threats. It would consist of a multi-layered system of low and high-altitude defences, including battle management command and control, early warning radar, and various interceptors. In May 2001, NATO launched two feasibility study contracts for a future Alliance TMD system. The studies were conducted by teams led by Lockheed- Martin Missiles and Fire Control and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). NATO has combined the technical options put forward by the two studies and developed a series of technical requirements for the future TMD architecture. At the Istanbul Summit, NATO leaders directed that work on TMD be taken forward expeditiously. The Alliance is therefore in the process of raising funds in order to start developing the battle management, command, control, communications and intelligence elements in mid-2005. NATO TMD is expected to have an initial operational capability in 2010. In addition to and building on ongoing work on active layered theatre missile defence, at the 2002 Prague Summit, Allied leaders initiated a new NATO missile defence (MD) feasibility study to examine options for protecting Alliance territory, forces and population centres against the full range of missile threats. This new MD feasibility study has been under contract with a consortium led by SAIC since January 2004, with an expected duration of 18 months, and will address critical issues such as the command and control architecture and the optimum mix of planned and existing systems and capabilities.

© NATO - OTAN 2004 -	NATO Public Diplomacy Division, 1110 Brussels, Belgium, web site: www.nato.int e-mail: natodoc@hq.nato.int