MEADS Radar Completes Rotation Tests, Prepares To Move To Test Range

[Someoneforyou]

ORLANDO/MUNICH/ROME, January 31st, 2011 --

The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program has successfully completed milestone tests as the first Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR) advances toward system tests this year at Pratica di Mare air force base in Italy.

The advanced MEADS X-band MFCR employs active phased array technology using transmit/receive modules developed in Germany. The radar provides precision tracking and wideband discrimination and classification. It also incorporates advanced identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) sensors with improved capabilities to identify and type threats.

MEADS radars are designed to protect troops and assets on today's 360-degree battlefield, where threats can attack from any direction. Sectored, piecemeal systems cannot defend assets completely because the direction of a missile attack is no longer certain in today's asymmetrical battlefield. Even small slivers of unprotected airspace put warfighters in danger.

The MFCR subteam at LFK in Germany completed integration of the antenna array last year, clearing the way for assembly-level testing of the Transceiver Group. Coolant pressure testing was completed, and cooling distribution was demonstrated at the slip ring and antenna rotary joint. Final rotation tests at both 15 and 30 rpm were successfully completed.

MEADS International President Dave Berganini said, "The entire MEADS team is proud to see our first system elements moving to the test range. The first battle manager and launcher moved to the test range in Italy in December to initiate system tests. The MFCR will join them shortly. We are on the path to flight tests at White Sands in 2012."

NAMEADSMA General Manager Gregory Kee said, "MEADS radars scan the complete perimeter to locate threats quickly and accurately. The X-band MFCR will improve target tracking and provide better performance in stressing clutter environments."

In August 2010, the MEADS program completed an extensive series of Critical Design Review events with a Summary Critical Design Review at MEADS International in Orlando, FL. The program is now completing final build, integration and test activities leading to flight tests involving all system elements at White Sands Missile Range in 2012.

Under development by Germany, Italy and the United States, MEADS is a mobile system that will replace Patriot in the United States and Nike Hercules in Italy. It will replace Patriot and the retired Hawk system in Germany. The system is designed to permit full interoperability between the U.S. and allied forces, and it is the only medium-range air defense system to provide full 360-degree coverage.

MEADS will meet challenging new requirements not addressed by any previous or planned Air and Missile Defense system. The system will combine superior battlefield protection with extensive flexibility, allowing it to protect maneuver forces and critical assets against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft. It also provides an open architecture for 21st century air and missile defense system-of-system integration capabilities that allow operational mission-tailoring. MEADS is designed to provide greater firepower with less manpower than current systems, producing dramatic operation and support cost savings.

MEADS International, a multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, FL, is the prime contractor for MEADS. Major subcontractors and joint venture partners are MBDA in Italy, LFK in Germany and Lockheed Martin in the United States. Today, 1,800 employees from these companies are completing development of MEADS, which is closely watched as a model program for collaborative transatlantic development.

The United States funds 58 percent of the MEADS program, and European partners Germany and Italy provide 25 percent and 17 percent respectively as partners in the NATO Medium Extended Air Defense System Management Organization (NAMEADSMO). Its program management agency NAMEADSMA is located in Huntsville, AL.

Source: Lockheed Martin

 

[Someoneforyou]

Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) – 21st Century Air and Missile Defense

Developed by The United States, Germany and Italy

"¢ Target Set. MEADS defeats next-generation threats including tactical ballistic
missiles (TBMs), unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and aircraft.
MEADS provides expanded protection for our forces and homeland defense for
our allies. Proven hit-to-kill technology impacts the threat and destroys weapons
of mass destruction (WMD) at intercept.

"¢ Operating Concepts. MEADS will provide air and missile defense (AMD)
protection for the maneuver force for the first time. MEADS will also provide
area defense, homeland defense, and weighted asset protection.

"¢ Degree of Protection. 360-degree coverage defends against attack by cruise
missile, TBMs, or air-breathing threats from any direction.

"¢ Transportability and Mobility. Lightweight, efficient Major End Items (MEIs)
enable strategic and tactical transport. MEADS is C-130/A400M transportable
and has excellent cross-country mobility to provide continuous air and missile
defense coverage for the maneuver force.

"¢ Interoperability. Supports coalition fighting through communications with
external sensors and data links such as ACCS, AWACS, SAMOC, AEGIS,
THAAD, and Patriot.

"¢ Netted-Distributed Architecture. MEADS provides operational flexibility to
tailor battle elements using distributed sensors, launchers, and TOCs. Battle
elements can be tailored on demand without interrupting operations.

"¢ Plug-and-Fight. MEADS sensors, shooters, or other Tactical Operations
Centers simply act as nodes on the network. A commander can dynamically add
or subtract elements without shutting the system down. A standardized interface
extends plug-and-fight to non-MEADS elements. This flexibility is
unprecedented for ground-based AMD systems.

"¢ Survivability. MEADS defends the force and defends itself. High off-road
mobility, dispersion, and availability provide additional protection for the
system. ECM resistance and distributed workload increases survivability.

"¢ Sustainability. Graceful degradation and optimized on-board provisions yield
high operational availability. Cutting-edge prognostics and diagnostics minimize
downtime and reduce resources to sustain fielded systems for extended periods.
Advanced logistic design reduces cost of ownership.

MEADS

"¢ Replacement for Patriot, Hawk, and Nike Hercules
"¢ 21st century air and missile defense system meets critical
requirements for partner nations
"¢ Critical Design Review complete in 2010
"¢ Closely watched model for development of transatlantic
defense systems

Source: MEADS International Inc.

 

[Someoneforyou]

 

[Someoneforyou]

Lockheed Martin Delivers Tactical Hardware for MEADS Intra-Fire Unit Communications
15 JUNE 2011

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently delivered the first intra-fire unit communications kit qualified for use with the tri-national Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). This kit, also known as the MEADS Internal Communications Subsystem (MICS) Message Routing Subsystem, will support MEADS launcher integration, test and qualification.

MICS provides secure tactical communications between the MEADS sensors, launchers and tactical operations centers across a high-speed internet protocol network. With MICS, those MEADS elements can be tactically positioned for maximum lethality and survivability while maintaining clear, rapid and efficient communication.

MICS provides plug-and-fight technology for streamlined data exchange. Its self-forming network eliminates the need for a fixed network infrastructure, while its self-healing properties allow MEADS major end items to enter and exit the network without operator intervention.

"This delivery provides an unprecedented capability for the battlefield," said Rich Russell, director of Sensors, Data Links and Advanced Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "The MICS Message Routing Subsystem will increase combat readiness with reliable high-speed, secure data communications and interconnectivity for combat operations."

Lockheed Martin has successfully demonstrated the ability to provide internet protocol-based communications between widely dispersed sensors, launchers and tactical operations centers. This information sharing capability will play a significant role in future integrated air defense

operations. Ground units equipped with the MICS technology can exchange command, control and status data over a secure network to maintain situational awareness and combat superiority.

MEADS was designed to meet the challenging new requirements not addressed by any previous or planned Air and Missile Defense system. MEADS provides greater firepower with less manpower than current systems, producing dramatic operation and support cost savings.


Source: MEADS International

 

[Someoneforyou]

Second MEADS Launcher Passes Key Acceptance Test
20 JUNE 2011

ORLANDO, Fla., MUNICH, and ROME --- The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) successfully passed another hardware milestone when its second Launcher Platform Group (LPG) completed formal acceptance testing during March in Dello, Italy.

MEADS is a ground-mobile air and missile defense system that incorporates the hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Missile, 360-degree radars, netted-distributed battle management/communication centers and high-firepower launchers. The system combines superior battlefield protection with extensive flexibility, allowing it to protect forces and critical assets against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft.

Designed by MBDA Italia and produced by subcontractor ATIB, the tested LPG is carried on a German MAN Prime Mover. Following integration with an Integrated Launcher Electronics System, Launcher Power System and Internal Communication System (MICS), the completed launcher will begin system-level integration with other MEADS elements. MEADS is scheduled to begin flight tests at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. later this year.

The lightweight MEADS launchers are easily transportable and tactically mobile. Each carries up to eight PAC-3 MSE Missiles and achieves launch readiness in minimum time. A Palletized Load Handling and Elevation System allows MEADS launchers to autonomously and rapidly reload.

During the acceptance tests, the LPG demonstrated compliance with all expected capabilities, including:

-- Automatic missile upload/offload reload that is unmatched among existing air defense systems
-- Verification of LPG emplacement from 'road march' configuration to 'ready-to-fire' position and back
-- Quick and automatic detachment of main components from the prime mover in preparation for helicopter transport.

Through improvements in range, interoperability, mobility and full 360-degree defense capability against the evolving threat, MEADS improves capability to defend troops and critical assets. MEADS defends up to eight times the coverage area with far fewer system assets. This allows for a substantial reduction in deployed personnel and equipment, with less demand for airlift.

Source: MEADS International

 

[Someoneforyou]

MEADS Partner Nations Approve Flight Test Demonstrations of Advanced System Capability
UNITED STATES - GERMANY- ITALY / 21 JUNE 2011

ORLANDO/MUNICH/ROME, June 21st, 2011 -- The National Armaments Directors of Germany, Italy and the United States have approved a revised set of development objectives for the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program, including two intercept flight tests by 2014.

The refocused development program ensures that key national technologies will be demonstrated and that MEADS will readily mature into the advanced and effective terminal-phase air and missile defense system specified by Germany and Italy, and a viable option for U.S. procurement.

MEADS International (MI) President David Berganini said, "MEADS is a highly robust and flexible system, and that is why it is so important to keep this system moving forward. For example, with just a battle manager, launcher and fire control radar, MEADS provides full 360-degree protection against evolved threats at longer range than any system available today. Additionally, plug-and-fight capability lets other assets seamlessly join the network."

MEADS is designed to provide full 360-degree protection and to defeat the emerging threat spectrum. It can defend up to eight times the coverage area of current sectored systems while using far fewer system assets. This allows for a substantial reduction in deployed personnel and equipment, with less demand for airlift, which significantly reduces overall system operation and support costs.

The revolutionary network-centric battle manager allows any combination of sensors and launchers to form an Air and Missile Defense battle element for specific mission objectives. Through this capability, MEADS can become the hub for national air and missile defense networks.

MEADS International, the MEADS prime contractor, worked with its NATO MEADS Management Agency (NAMEADSMA) customer to define and prioritize program objectives within authorized funding. By 2014, MI will finalize and demonstrate the MEADS system design and capabilities through modeling, demonstrations and three flight tests with two being intercepts. The scope adds nation-unique follow-on activities to complete system development.

NAMEADSMA General Manager Gregory Kee said, "Because of its advanced capabilities, there is international interest in MEADS. In budget-constrained times, nations need a capability that is modern, operationally more capable than existing systems, and with reduced manning requirements and lower operational costs. MEADS will offer the most advanced terminal-phase air and missile defense technology available at the conclusion of this revised design and development program."

To support final system integration and flight test activities, MI has taken ownership of facilities at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. Test personnel will move onto the range in May to implement the development test program.

MEADS incorporates the hit-to-kill PAC-3 MSE Missile in a system that includes 360-degree radars, netted-distributed battle management/communication centers and high-firepower launchers. The system design combines superior battlefield protection with extensive flexibility, allowing it to protect forces and critical assets against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft.

MEADS also provides an open architecture for 21st century air and missile defense system-of-system integration capabilities that allow operational mission-tailoring. MEADS is designed to provide greater firepower with less manpower than current systems, producing dramatic operation and support cost savings.

MEADS International, a multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, Fla., is the prime contractor for the MEADS system. Major subcontractors and joint venture partners are MBDA in Italy, LFK in Germany and Lockheed Martin in the United States.


Source: Lockheed Martin

 

[Armand2REP]

A weapon system without funding =