Russian Ambassador Threatens Denmark Over NATO's BMD Strategy

I don't think that the Danes fully understand the consequences if Denmark joins the US-led missile defence shield,Russia's ambassador to Copenhagen warned in a letter to the editor of Jylland Sposten.If that happens,Danish warships become targets for Russian nuclear missiles.Although it would be Denmark's decision,relations with Russia will be damaged and Denmark would lose both money and security.*
This is obviously unacceptable,responded Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard.Russia knows very well that NATO's missile defence system is defensive.We disagree with Russia on many important things,but it is important that the tone between us remains as positive as possible.*
The NATO Ballistic Missile Defence system consists of both ship and land-based SM-3 systems to counter short and medium-range ballistic missiles.Four US Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence warships are now based permanently at Rota,Spain.An Aegis Ashore capability is planned for commissioning in 2015 at Deveselu Airbase,Romania;and a second Aegis Ashore facility is planned for commissioning at Redzikowo Military Base,Poland in 2018.
Other NATO members are contributing frigate-based defence early-warning radars to the system:the Netherlands and Denmark.The Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence programme,ALTBMD,provides NATO command,control and communications for the system's architecture,which will protect European populations,territories and forces,as well as NATO deployed forces.*
The Aegis Ashore installation,Naval Support Facility Deveselu,is under the command of Captain William Garron,US Navy,and is to become fully operational later this year.The expected completion date is 30 September 2015.This European Phased Adaptive Approach includes:1.a deckhouse with command and control centre and a BMD-enhanced SPY 1 LDS radar similar to Aegis shipboard radars;and 2.a connected VLS building with 24 SM-3 missiles.Software is from the shipboard Aegis combat system.
A test site for the Lockheed Martin Aegis Ashore system is in Barking Sands,Hawaii.*
Lockheed Martin (LMT)