U.S. Ambassador to Romania Mr. Hans Klemm and Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu announced the major military components of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in Romania have been transferred to Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, during a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dec. 18.
The Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS) in Deveselu, Romania, is a key element in Phase II of the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA).
Quotes:
"I'm happy to report that this ceremony today marks that all major military construction on the base - that is, everything necessary for operating the system - is complete and functioning, and that the project came in under-budget, thanks in no small part to the excellent cooperation we received from the government of Romania. We now move on to the next phase of operational testing and evaluation, in preparation for its Initial Operating Capacity declaration, as well as the NATO integration process."
- U.S. Ambassador to Romania Hans Klemm
"[Missile Defense Agency Director] Vice Adm. Syring and I conducted a thorough walk through of the Aegis Ashore site in Deveselu yesterday. I am impressed by all of the progress the U.S. and Romanian team has made since my last visit in February. Now that CNE-CNA (Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa)/U.S. 6th Fleet has ownership of Aegis Ashore-Romania, we will begin integration into the existing NATO BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) architecture."
- Vice Adm. James Foggo, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet
Quick Facts:
EPAA is the U.S. national contribution to NATO Ballistic Missile Defense and was implemented in phases in order to be adaptable and flexible and be able to include evolving BMD technology to counter the growing BMD threat.
The purpose of the EPAA is to protect European NATO allies and U.S. deployed forces in the region against current and emerging ballistic threats from the Middle East.
Phase One - completed in fiscal year 2011 - involved the deployment of current and proven missile defense systems, including one deployed BMD capable ship, the SM-3 Block IA interceptor, and a forward-based Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance system (AN/TPY-2) in Turkey.
U.S. 6th Fleet will test and evaluate the AAMDS-Romania in preparation for future integration into the NATO Ballistic Missile Defense Architecture.
NATO BMD architecture includes the Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance System (AN/TPY-2); a command and control network operated from Ramstein Air Base, Germany; and the BMD-capable guided missile destroyers, forward deployed to Rota, Spain.
U.S. and Romanian officials broke ground Oct. 28, 2013 for the AAMDS at Deveselu Air Base, Romania.
