Tomorrow, the US missile defense base in Redzikowo, northwest Poland, will officially open. The facility, equipped with the Aegis Ashore system, reached full operational readiness last June. The new base is an important element of the US and NATO missile defense system in Eastern Europe, located less than 300 km from the Russian border.

The Redzikowo complex includes 24 Mk41 launchers that can fire both SM interceptors designed to neutralize ballistic missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of hitting targets up to 1600 km away.

The base's opening has been met with controversy. In Russia, questions were once again raised on the eve of the facility's opening about the threat such infrastructure could pose to the country's security. The Aegis Ashore system, as US and NATO officials say, was created to protect against potential missile threats from other countries.