US military base in Poland aims to destroy Russian missiles.
The Polish Foreign Minister stated that the US military base in his country is designed to intercept not only Iranian missiles, but also Russian missiles.
According to RIA Novosti, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky stated on Radio Rebeliant that the US missile defense base in Redzikov, Poland, is designed to destroy not only Iranian missiles, but also Russian missiles.
βIn the coming weeks, we will finally open a missile defense base in Redzikowo near Slupsk. This is a base that we agreed upon with the United States. During the negotiations, we requested assurances that these bases could shoot down Russian missiles flying towards Poland, in addition to Iranian missiles flying towards the United States,β the Polish Foreign Minister said.
Foreign Minister Sikorsky added that Washington had "changed the concept" when establishing this military base. According to him, it will soon be officially operational.
The US missile defense base at Redzikowo, 165 km from the Russian border, includes AN/SPY-1 radar, Mk-41 VLS launchers, and SM-3 anti-ballistic missiles β Standard 3 missiles.
In May 2024, the Pentagon announced the signing of a $49 million contract between the US Department of Defense and the American defense industry company Northrop Grumman to create an integrated air defense and missile defense combat management system for Poland. At the same time, the US frequently reported that the missile defense system being deployed in Poland was not intended to counter Russia, but rather to protect against Iranian missiles.
On July 10, 2024, NATO announced that this new U.S. ballistic missile defense site, located in Redzikowo, Poland, is part of NATO's larger missile shield and is designed to detect, track, and intercept ballistic missiles in flight.
According to NATO, the purpose of the alliance's missile defense shield is to protect European citizens, territories, and forces from ballistic missile attacks. Other key components of the shield include a second Aegis Ashore site in Romania, US Navy destroyers stationed at Port Rota in Spain, and an early warning radar located in the Turkish town of Kurecik.