NATO Declares Missile Defense System Operational
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

CHICAGO, May 20, 2012 – During its first session at the 25th NATO Summit here today,

the alliance’s senior governing body declared operational the missile defense system


it endorsed at its November 2010 summit in Lisbon, Portugal, NATO’s secretary general said.

During a news conference following the North Atlantic Council session, Anders Fogh Rasmussen characterized the accomplishment as true trans-Atlantic teamwork.

“We call this an interim capability, … the first step toward our long-term goal of providing full coverage and protection for all NATO European populations, territory and forces,” Rasmussen said.

“Our system will link together missile defense assets from different allies -- satellites, ships, radars and interceptors -- under NATO command and control,” he added. “It will allow us to defend against threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.”



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