Lu Yue Dragon Ball
At the beginning of the 21st century, in pursuit of military superiority and maintaining its global hegemony, the United States announced its withdrawal from the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems (ABM Treaty), which was signed with the Soviet Union in 1972. The treaty aims to ensure that both sides do not develop, test, or deploy ocean, air, space, and land-based mobile anti-ballistic missile systems and their components.
At the same time, the United States began the next step in its plans to deploy the GMD-type missile defense system and GBI interceptor missiles in the Eastern European region. At the beginning of the 10 s of the 20 th century, the United States reached an agreement with Romania and Poland on the construction of new ground-based complexes, and began to build fixed Aegis shore complexes in the two places. The cruiser Ticonderoga and the destroyer Arleigh Burke are equipped with an improved Aegis ballistic missile defense system, as well as new weapons for intercepting complex ballistic targets. The establishment of "Aegis" in Europe has aroused widespread concern among countries in the world, what are the characteristics of the newly established missile defense system, and why does the United States go to great lengths to build a missile defense system in Europe?
American ground-based interceptor missile GBI
Aegis shore complex
At the heart of the ground-based Aegis system is the AN / SPY-1 three-coordinate multipurpose radar station, originally designed for Ticonderoga-class and Arleigh Burke-class ships. All the electronics of the system are installed in the above-ground building, while two active phased array antennas are installed on the exterior wall of the building. The ground-based Aegis system is equipped with an AFAR active array radar with a range of up to 300-320 km and is capable of simultaneously tracking up to 250 targets. In addition, the system contains 3 Mk41 universal vertical launch systems, each equipped with 8 missile units.
The Aegis shore complexes in Romania and Poland are aimed directly at the European part of Russia and are designed to carry out missile launches from a given area and respond quickly. The Aegis Ground-based radar system is integrated with other intelligence tools to effectively enhance the surveillance capabilities of Russian airspace.
Aegis shore complex related buildings
Aegis sea-based complex
The Aegis Sea-based Complex is one of the earliest carrier-based combat systems developed, most widely equipped, and most automated by the U.S. Navy and even the world. The system is designed to provide comprehensive defense and strike capabilities against sea and air targets and is considered one of the most advanced shipborne air defense systems in the world.
Known for its powerful multitasking capabilities and high degree of automation, the Aegis system is capable of performing a variety of tasks including air defense, anti-missile, anti-submarine, anti-ship, shore fire support, and launching Tomahawk cruise missiles. The Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers of the US Navy are equipped with a full-fledged AN / SPY-1 radar system and AFAR active array radar. These ships are superior to the land-based Aegis system in combat equipment, with the Ticonderoga class having 122 units of Mk 41 launchers and the Arleigh Burke class having 74 cells.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers equipped with the Aegis combat system
Strategic considerations for the deployment of Aegis in Europe by the United States
The Aegis combat system was originally developed by the United States to counter the "saturation strike" strategy envisioned by the Soviet Union, that is, to saturate the U.S. military's air defense system with a dense missile attack. Over time, the United States deployed the Aegis system in Europe, especially in Eastern Europe, with the aim of protecting its allies from potential missile threats and increasing the interoperability of command and control systems.
In addition, the deployment of the Aegis system is also seen as a political strategy to consolidate the global strategic position of the United States by binding the countries that use these systems to the United States. Therefore, the construction of the Aegis defense system in Europe by the United States is a multifaceted decision that reflects its strategic interests and geopolitical considerations in the region.