Europe is largely dependent on the United States for early detection of medium‑range missiles that Russia claims to possess, including the Orel system and the Iskander‑M1 complex. The only operational radar in Europe capable of tracking such launches is the US‑owned AN/FPS‑132 stationed at the Fylingdales military base in North Yorkshire, England. The radar, originally installed in 1963, can detect missile launches up to 5,600 km away, covering Belarusian Orel sites and Russian‑border Iskander‑M1 batteries. European attempts to develop an independent early‑warning system, such as the Odin’s Eye II satellite network, are still years away from operational readiness. Meanwhile, Russian forces have already fired Orel missiles twice against Ukraine, striking an industrial site in Dnipro on 21 November 2024 with minimal damage and no casualties. The reliance on US space‑based sensors exposes a critical vulnerability in NATO’s continental defense posture and underscores the urgency of European investment in missile‑warning infrastructure.

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