Embassy Seal US Department of State
flag graphic
 
 

Our Dossier

This dossier documents the United States policy on Missile Defense.

Important notice:
We are in the process of rebuilding our dossiers with statements and other documents issued by the new Administration.

Please use the tabs to access the three sections of this dossier:

Tab 1 lists US priorities with regard to Missile Defense, major USG statements, recent USG statements, USG fact sheets, and US. Govt. reports

Tab 2 lists non-US. Govt. reports, journal articles, and other documents.

Tab 3 provides a set of links to major web sites.

If you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us through email.

 

Other US Govt. Resources

Missile Defense Agency The Missile Defense Agency's mission is to develop, test and prepare for deployment a missile defense system.

 

NATO Discusses Missile Defense Statement by Ambassador Victoria Nuland, United States Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council on March 29, 2007.

 

Congressional Research ServiceKinetic Energy Kill for Ballistic Missile Defense: A Status Overview This January 2007 CRS report discusses how effective the U.S. investment has been in developing kinetic energy BMD systems?

 

Microphone icon representing hearings held before Congress Ballistic Missile Defense Programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program. Senate Armed Forces Committee; Washington, DC, April  11, 2007

 

Remarks by the deputy secretary of defense. Gordon R. England provided the keynote address at the 5th Annual Missile Defense Conference in Washington, DC on March 20, 2007.

 

Ballistic Missile Defense System Overview This document gives an overview of the MD-system. (caution: very large file)

 

Microphone icon representing hearings held before Congress Hearing of the defense subcommittee of the senate appropriations committee, May 11, 2005

 

Congressional Research ServiceBallistic Missile Defense: Historical Overview  This January 2007 CRS report gives an historic overview of Missile Defense.

 

 

Reports

National Security StrategyThe National Security Strategy of the United States of America (September 2002)

 

The United States Policy on Missile Defense: A Dossier

A RIM-7 NATO Sea Sparrow missile launches from USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) during a live fire exercise in the Western Pacific Ocean
A RIM-7 NATO Sea Sparrow missile launches from USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) during a live fire exercise in the Western Pacific Ocean, Oct. 18, 2004. The Sea Sparrow is used aboard Naval ships as a surface-to-air anti-missile defense system. DoD photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Mark J. Rebilas, U.S. Navy. 

Key U.S. Policy Priorities

bullet President Obama has approved the recommendation of Secretary of Defense Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a phased, adaptive approach for missile defense in Europe. This approach is based on an assessment of the Iranian missile threat, and a commitment to deploy technology that is proven, cost-effective, and adaptable to an evolving security environment.

The plan provides for the defense of U.S. deployed forces, their families, and our Allies in Europe sooner and more comprehensively than the previous program, and involves more flexible and survivable systems.

Two major developments led to this unanimous recommended change: New Threat Assessment & Advances in Capabilities and Technologies

The phased, adaptive approach for missile defense in Europe:

  • Sustains U.S. homeland defense against long-range ballistic missile threats.
  • Speeds protection of U.S. deployed forces, civilian personnel, and their accompanying families against the near-term missile threat from Iran.
  • Deploys proven capabilities and technologies to meet current threats.
  • Provides flexibility to upgrade and adjust the architecture, and to do so in a cost-effective manner, as the threat evolves.


We will work with our Allies to integrate this architecture with NATO members’ missile defense capabilities, as well as with the emerging NATO command and control network that is under development.

We also welcome Russian cooperation to bring its missile defense capabilities into a broader defense of our common strategic interests. White House on Evolving Missile Defense Architecture (2009-09-17)
 

Major US Government Statements

A select list of major statements On the United States and Africa with policy value.

Latest US Government Statements

This is a list of the 5 most recent items in reverse chronological order.

US Government Fact Sheets

Embassy of the United States