New U.S. missile shield likely to be deployed near Caucasus

Instead, Obama favors shorter-range ground- and sea-based missiles positioned closer to Iran.

Worldwide, the system eventually will integrate the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense missile, or THAAD, slated this year for operational deployment to Europe, and the Ground-Based Interceptor missile based at Fort Greely, Alaska, and at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Cartwright said.

It also would include construction of a directional X-band radar somewhere in Europe, most likely in the Caucasus region, Cartwright said.