Non-Subscriber Extract
Russia seeks first-strike capacity against US bases in Europe
- Article Tools
| 17 May 2007 |
In mid-January 2007, US officials formally proposed establishing a ballistic missile defence (BMD) radar system, operated by US personnel, in the Czech Republic.
The complex would consist of a X-band radar for mid-course tracking and discrimination of ballistic missiles launched from the Middle East. The US and Poland have also begun discussions about possibly deploying 10 ground-launched US BMD interceptor missiles on Polish territory.
US officials have justified the deployment as primarily aimed to protect European countries and the US from a future long-range ballistic missile threat from Iran.
Although the US currently seeks to deploy only a few interceptors in Eastern Europe, Russian analysts seem to think that these numbers could increase substantially in the future. Russian officials openly challenge the contention that these systems' function is to intercept long-range missiles from Middle Eastern rogue states. They argue that no state in the region, including Iran, will have intercontinental-range missiles of this type in the near future. They insist, however, that US interceptors stationed in Eastern Europe could attack Russian Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) shortly after their launch from Russian territory.
In response, Russian leaders are apparently seeking to acquire the capability to destroy these US missile interceptors before launch.
In September 2006, Major General Vladimir Belous said that Russia's military doctrine justifies military operations against threatening installations in foreign countries. Another Russian defense analyst, Alexander Pikayev, acknowledged at the time that Russian forces might use tactical nuclear weapons to eliminate threatening BMD systems in Eastern Europe.
At present, the Russian government appears most interested in developing the option to conduct a prompt first-strike attack against US BMD systems in Europe during a crisis.
276 of 1,010 words
© 2007 Jane's Information Group
[End of non-subscriber extract]
Customers with a paid subscription to Jane’s Intelligence Digest can access the full article here
If you would like to subscribe, please see our products section for more information and pricing on Intelligence Digest