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April 28, 2011

Russia outlines its vision of European missile shield

By RIA Novosti

Russia outlines its vision of European missile shield

Commander of Russian Space Forces Lt. Gen. Oleg Ostapenko

From RIA Novosti:  Commander of Russian Space Forces Lt. Gen. Oleg Ostapenko outlined on Friday Russia’s proposals for the future European missile defense network. . . . .

The general said it would be logical and efficient to create a network of "sector" defenses where each member state or group of states would assume responsibility for intercepting and destroying ballistic missiles over assigned territory.

Russia is ready to provide a "missile shield" over Eastern Europe, the Black Sea, the Barents Sea and the Baltic Sea, Ostapenko said, adding that a decision to deploy missile defenses must be coordinated by a joint command center on the basis of information provided by a joint data processing center.

"In order to ensure a reliable and uniform exchange of information it is necessary to set up a joint data processing center which would obtain, process and relay target data to a joint fire control center," he said.

Russian military specialists must be part of teams operating these centers on rotation basis, the general added.  (photo: Russian Ministry of Defense)

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