A successful missile defence test last Friday should bolster support for US plans to deploy interceptor missiles and a powerful tracking radar in Europe, a top Pentagon official said today.
Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Director Lt Gen Henry Obering told reporters that European and Nato allies often questioned him about the unproven nature of US missile defences.
"This goes a long way to answering that question," he said. "We're making great steady progress in terms of showing that this system does work, and this is a major step forward."
Washington wants to install 10 ground-based interceptor missiles in Poland and a tracking radar station in the Czech Republic to defend against a potential Iranian missile attack.
It says Iran may develop missiles able to reach the United States by 2015.
Even if work began next year, the European sites would not be operational until 2011 or 2012, Lt Gen Obering said.
Proposed congressional cuts to the MDA budget could delay work by six months to a year unless the host nations agree to the plan soon, he added.
Russia opposes the plan, saying it would upset a delicate strategic balance and threaten its own security.
Both nations are continuing talks about missile defence co-operation, and Russian officials were in Washington to observe Friday's test.