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In phase one of the Obama plan, the U.S. will deploy state-of-the-art SM-3 interceptor missiles and radar surveillance systems on sea-based Aegis weapons systems by 2011. In phase two – to be completed by 2015 – a more capable version of the SM-3 interceptor and more advanced sensors will be used in both sea- and land-based configurations. In later phases three and four, intercepting and detecting capabilities will be further developed.
Among countries Mullen said the U.S. hopes to bring into providing “architectural” support for the system, former Warsaw Pact member and new NATO ally Romania voiced willingness in February to host interceptor missiles, while talks are continuing with Turkey and Bulgaria for the deployment of strong X-band radar stations to detect incoming missiles.
Despite Iran's controversial nuclear program, Turkey is one of Tehran's strongest economic and trade partners. A move by Turkey, a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council, to vote against fresh sanctions on Iran's nuclear program in June angered Washington. Ankara says it wants a fully diplomatic and peaceful solution to the dispute.
In Ankara, Mullen said he did not plan to "question or rebut" Turkey over the U.N. vote. Instead he said the U.S. and Turkey agree that Iran should not achieve a nuclear weapons capability and that "we need to do all we can to ensure that."
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