U.S. unveils new missile defense program in Europe

WASHINGTON, Sep. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday announced abandonment of the Bush-era controversial missile defense shield program in Eastern Europe, but unveiled a "phased, adaptive approach" for missile defense in the continent.

"This new approach will provide capabilities sooner, build on proven systems and offer greater defenses against the threat of missile attack than the 2007 European missile defense program," Obama said at a brief news conference in the White House.

U.S.President Barack Obama on Thursday announces abandonment  of the missile defense shield program in Eastern Europe at a  brief news conference in the White House.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Based on an assessment of Iran's missile threat and U.S. advanced and cost-effective missile defense technologies, the Pentagon suggests the four-phase deployment of the missile defense systems in Europe from 2011 to 2020.

In Phase One (in the 2011 time frame), the United States would deploy current and proven missile defense systems, including the sea-based Aegis Weapon System, the SM-3 interceptor (Block IA), and sensors such as the forward-based Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance system.

In Phase Two (in the 2015 timeframe), the United States would deploy a more capable version of the SM-3 interceptor (Block IB) in both sea- and land-based configurations, and more advanced sensors, to expand the defended area against short- and medium-range missile threats.

In Phase Three (in the 2018 timeframe), the United States would deploy the more advanced SM-3 Block IIA variant currently under development, to counter short-, medium-, and intermediate-range missile threats.