NATO says its Aegis Ashore missile defense site in Poland is operational

The United States’ Aegis Ashore missile defense site in Poland is already operational, NATO said in a press statement.

"A new U.S. ballistic missile defense site in Redzikowo, Poland is now operational and available for the defense of the Alliance. Dubbed "Aegis Ashore", the site is part of a larger NATO missile shield and is designed to detect, track and intercept ballistic missiles in flight," it said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the completion of the site’s construction as "an important step for transatlantic security and NATO’s ability to defend against the growing threat of ballistic missiles."