NATO has formally assumed command of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (MDS) in Redzikowo, Poland, about a week after the site’s official inauguration.
It will operate under NATO’s Allied Air Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, which oversees the command and control of NATO’s ballistic missile defense systems, reinforcing the alliance’s dedication to improving Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD).
The IAMD mission aims to protect NATO member states’ territory, populations, and forces against any air or missile threat.
“The integration of the Aegis Ashore system into NATO’s defensive network underscores our collective commitment to ensuring the security of all Allies,” said Allied Air Command Commander General James Hecker.
“This capability strengthens Poland’s role in our employment of IAMD,” he added.
Meanwhile, US Naval Forces Europe-Africa Commander Admiral Stuart B. Munsch highlighted that the command transfer solidifies the US and NATO’s shared values and collective defense strategies.
Aegis Ashore
The land-based US military installation Aegis Ashore MDS at the Polish Redzikowo site comes after a similar facility was established and has been operational since 2016 in Deveselu, Romania.
It was originally built to detect, track, and intercept ballistic missiles from the Middle East but shifted to address threats from Russia, given its location 230 kilometers (143 miles) from the Russian border.
While NATO described the system as “purely defensive,” the Kremlin sees it as an attempt to contain Moscow’s military, which would lead them to take measures to “ensure parity.”