Work related to the creation of the base in Redzikowo began in 2001. However, the construction was completed only in 2016, and the launch of full operational capabilities was extended for several more years, which included, among others: the aftermath of the pandemic.
US-owned facility in Poland
Although NATO has control over the Aegis Ashore shield, the facility is owned by the USA. The complex includes identical equipment in Deveselu, Romania, a radar in Turkey and a command center at the German Ramstein base. It should be emphasized, however, that Aegis Ashore in Redzikowo was designed years ago to combat the threat from Iran. So what is its current usefulness and can the base in Redzików protect Poland against a potential threat from Russia? Polityka Insight analyst Marek Świerczyński answered this question in an interview with PAP.
– The base was designed for the threat from Iran – not Russia. This has its consequences – that’s why the radar base is in Turkey, that’s why one of the bases is in Romania and the other in Poland – said Świerczyński. In his opinion, the base in Redzikowo is a “relic of a previous era”, when the US (together with its allies) were concerned about the development of the Iranian nuclear program, so it was decided to create a complex capable of ensuring security in the event of a threat from the east.
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No obvious answer
Świerczyński also emphasizes that today the exact role of the base in Redzikowo is unknown (and a twin in Romania). – I don’t have an obvious answer as to what it would be [baza – red.] was supposed to play a role if we assume that the threat from Iran to Western Europe or the USA is today assessed as perhaps not non-existent, but marginal – said Świerczyński in an interview with PAP.
The analyst also draws attention to the SM-3IIA missiles themselves, which are intended to be used in the Aegis Ashore complex to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. According to Świerczyński, it is important that today “we do not know how effective such weapons would be against projectiles, which were directed near or at the base in Redzikowo; we do not know its effectiveness in the so-called terminal phase.”
The expert clearly indicates that the exact effectiveness of Aegis Ahshore in Poland cannot be determined today. However, he adds that the base can use not only the above-mentioned SM-3 missiles, but also the more versatile SM-6 or Tomahawk offensive cruise missiles.
However, from the point of view of Poland’s security, the radar installed in the facility is important. – A powerful Aegis radar that can “see” several hundred kilometers – Świerczyński said about the base in Redzików. – From our point of view, if this radar was included in the Polish system – because it will definitely be in the NATO system – it would certainly be huge strengthening of the so-called situational awareness – he added. “In the current situation,” such a structure will be very useful, primarily for monitoring the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea.
Norbert Garbarek, journalist of Wirtualna Polska
