European companies have begun exploring development of niche technologies that could form the basis of a European contribution to a U.S.-led strategic missile-defense program, assuming such a role wins endorsement on both sides of the Atlantic. These companies are hoping that an ongoing study of strategic defense by NATO governments will bring a NATO endorsement of a European strategic-defense effort and the funding that would be needed. The NATO Command, Control and Consultation (C3) study on missile defense is on schedule to report its first conclusions in mid-2005, according to Bernd Kreinbaum, coordinator of NATO missile defense programs at alliance headquarters in Brussels.
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