It is the only place on earth where, under the anti-ballistic missile treaty, the United States was allowed to test its strategic interceptor missiles, a key component of President Bush's missile-defence programme, sometimes known as Star Wars II.

ECONOMIST: A new agreement for America's missile range

Such systems include all phases of the Phased Adaptive Approach to missile defenses in Europe, the modernization of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, and the continued development of the two-stage Ground-Based Interceptor as a technological and strategic hedge.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | Mapping a National Security Failure: Ratification of the New START Treaty | Page: 14

Gaffney noted that there is important technological, programmatic and strategic synergy to be obtained by complementing the impressive work now being performed by Israel and the United States under the Arrow interceptor program with rapid deployment of a space-based strategic defense.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | CENTER CALLS FOR ENDING U.S. AND ISRAELI STRATEGIC VULNERABILITY, REJECTION OF HOUSE ACTION ON SDI