US military to commission missile defense base at Deveselu on Friday

The US military will commission new missile defense base at Deveselu on Friday, where a component of NATO's missile defence shield in Europe will be installed, reads Stars and Stripes US publication, which quotes US military officials.

The base at Deveselu, which will become operational next year, will be the first unit in Europe where the Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system will be installed, a land-based version of the sophisticated radar tracking system installed on U.S. warships since 2004.

Hundreds of US military and civilians will conduct their activity in this base. A number of 24 missile interceptor will also be installed there. Another land component of the missile defence shield is going to become operational in Poland in 2018.

U.S. warships equipped with Aegis systems began making regular patrols in the Mediterranean in 2011, and the U.S. is moving four of the destroyers to Rota, Spain, for the missions. An advanced radar system in Turkey was completed in 2012. AGERPRES