NATO has for the first time developed a system that is capable of linking different nations' anti-missile weapons to defend troops in the field, it was announced Thursday, dpa reported. A number of NATO states have bought or developed systems capable of shooting down incoming ballistic missiles, but the alliance had not so far found a way of hooking them together when forces from different countries go into action together. "NATO's first ever theatre ballistic missile defence (TBMD) capability has been handed over to NATO's military commanders," a statement issued in Brussels said. The handover, celebrated in the German town of Uedem, came after NATO technicians computer-tested a software system linking anti- missile equipment from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States. The system passed the test and was awarded "interim capability," meaning that field commanders will be able to use it to provide multinational missile defence over relatively small forces and areas. "This interim capability allows NATO commanders, for the first time ever, to do limited ballistic missile defence planning and exchange information with national ballistic missile defence assets," the statement read. -- SPA
