Medium Extended Air Immune System
The Medium Extended Air Immune System (MEADS) is really a ground-mobile air and missile immune system meant to switch the Patriot missile system via a NATO-managed development. This program is really a growth and development of the U . s . States, Uk, Germany and France.
Developed and created by the U . s . States, Uk, Germany and France. MEADS is really a ground-mobile air and missile defense (AMD) system meant to replace German and U . s . States Patriot systems and Italian Nike Hercules systems. Germany chose MEADS to exchange their MIM-104 Patriot systems in June 2015. MEADS is made to address the shortcomings of fielded systems and also to permit full interoperability between U.S. and allied forces. It’s the only medium-range AMD system to supply full 360-degree coverage against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, aircraft, and enormous-caliber rockets.
MEADS provides ground-mobile air and missile defense with expanded coverage. The machine provides enhanced pressure protection against an extensive variety of third-dimension threats. Improved interoperability, mobility, and full 360-degree defense capacity from the evolving threat represent are key aspects. MEADS may be the first air and missile defense (AMD) system that gives continuous on-the-move protection for maneuver forces. MEADS offers area defense, homeland defense, and weighted asset protection.
MEADS incorporates the Lockheed Martin hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile inside a system including 360-degree surveillance and fire control sensors, netted-distributed tactical operations centers, and light-weight launchers. Just one MEADS battery has the capacity to defend as much as 8 occasions the region of the Patriot battery by way of advanced 360-degree sensors, near-vertical launch capacity, and also the longer-range PAC-3 MSE missile. The MEADS radars – using active phased arrays and digital beam developing – enable full utilisation of the PAC-3 MSE missile’s extended range.
Truck-mounted MEADS elements drive or roll off and on C-130 and A400M transport aircraft so that they are rapidly deployed to some theater of operations. Because MEADS uses less system assets, it permits a considerable decrease in deployed personnel and equipment. MEADS reduces interest in airlift, therefore it can deploy to theater faster.
The minimum MEADS engagement capacity requires just one launcher, one fight manager, and something fire control radar to supply 360-degree defense of troops or critical assets. As increasing numbers of system elements arrive, they instantly and seamlessly join the MEADS network and make out capacity.
The best contractor, MEADS Worldwide, is really a multinational partnership headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Its participating information mill MBDA Italia, MBDA Deutschland GmbH, and Lockheed Martin. The organization initially won an aggressive downselect to build up the MEADS system in 1999, however the program couldn’t be began since the losing competitor filed two successive suits. In 2001, a $216 million Risk Reduction Effort contract was awarded to include a brand new interceptor approach. In May 2005, MEADS Worldwide signed a definitized contract worth $2 billion plus €1.4 billion for MEADS development and design. This development contract was finished in 2014. The U.S. funded 58 percent from the MEADS Development and design program, with European partners Germany and Italia supplying 25 % and 17 % correspondingly.
The German Bundeswehr completed an analysis of air defense alternatives this year and strongly suggested MEADS because the grounds for improving Germany’s missile defense shield so that as Germany’s contribution towards the European Phased Adaptive Approach. In Feb 2011, the U.S. Dod announced it meant to fulfill its dedication to complete the development and design effort, however that it wouldn’t procure the MEADS system for budgetary reasons. Lockheed Martin developed an interactive existence cycle cost and abilities application according to their Dynamic Comparative Analysis Methodology (DCAM) method of more fully evaluate and communicate the performance and price benefit of MEADS when compared with alternative systems. The DCAM application further reinforced the need for MEADS and it is credited with helping ensure ongoing funding.
In October 2011, the nation’s Armaments Company directors of Germany, Italia, and also the U.S. approved an agreement amendment to finance two flight intercept tests, a launcher/missile portrayal test, along with a sensor portrayal test conducted to accomplish the planned development scope.
In September 2013, MEADS received operating certification because of its Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system. Mode 5 is much more secure and offers positive line-of-sight identification of friendly platforms outfitted by having an IFF transponder to higher safeguard allied forces.
In June 2015, MEADS was selected because the foundation for the German Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS), a brand new generation of air and missile defense that needs flexible architecture according to strong networking abilities. MEADS would be a candidate for Poland’s Wisla medium range air immune system procurement, but was eliminated in June 2014 when competition was downselected towards the US Patriot system and also the French/Italian SAMP/T system. However, Lockheed Martin started restored discussions using the Polish Secretary of state for Defense in Feb 2016 resulting in a proper request information in September 2016. MEADS remains an applicant for Poland’s Narew short range air immune system procurement.
The MEADS air and missile immune system consists of six major equipment products. The MEADS radars, fight manager, and launchers are equipped for high reliability so the system can maintain sustained operations considerably longer than legacy systems, leading to overall lower operation and support costs.
Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR) – an X-band, solid-condition, phased array radar using element-level transmit/receive modules coded in Germany. The active digitally scanned array (AESA) radar provides precision tracking and wideband discrimination and classification abilities. For very rapid deployments, the MEADS MFCR can offer both surveillance and fire control abilities until a surveillance radar joins the network. The MFCR uses its primary beam for uplink and downlink missile communications. A sophisticated Mode 5 identification friend-or-foe subsystem supports improved threat identification and typing.
Surveillance Radar (SR) – the UHF MEADS Surveillance Radar is really a 360-degree active digitally steered array radar that gives extended range coverage. It offers threat recognition capacity against highly maneuverable low-signature threats, including short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, along with other air-breathing threats.
Fight Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (BMC4I) Tactical Operations Center (TOC) – the MEADS TOC controls a sophisticated network-centric open architecture that enables any mixture of sensors and launchers to become organized right into a single air and missile defense fight element. The machine is netted and distributed. Every MEADS fight manager, radar, and launcher is really a wireless node around the network. Due to multiple communications pathways, the network could be expanded or contracted because the situation dictates and precludes anchorman failure if a person node becomes inoperable. Additionally, it includes a plug-and-fight capacity that enables MEADS launchers and radars to seamlessly enter and then leave the network without shutting it lower and interrupting ongoing operations. MEADS uses open, non-proprietary standardized interfaces to increase plug-and-battle to non-MEADS elements. This versatility is totally new for ground-based AMD systems.
Launcher and Reloader – the lightweight MEADS launcher is definitely transportable, tactically mobile, and able to rapid reload. It carries as much as eight PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Missiles and achieves launch readiness in minimum time. A MEADS reloader is comparable but lacks launcher electronic systems.
Certified Missile Round (PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement and canister) – The PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile may be the baseline interceptor for MEADS. The interceptor boosts the system’s range and lethality within the baseline PAC-3 missile, that was selected because the primary missile for MEADS once the development and design program started in 2004. The MSE missile boosts the engagement envelope and defended area by utilizing more responsive control surfaces along with a more effective rocket motor.
In Germany, the PAC-3 MSE missile is anticipated to become supplemented by IRIS-T SLS as secondary missile for ground-based medium range air defense. It is dependant on the IRIS-T air-to-air missile. The shorter range IRIS-T SLS system uses unmodified IRIS-T air-to-air missiles launched from standard LAU-7 aircraft launchers, four which are mounted onto an exciting-terrain launch vehicle, as the medium-range IRIS-T SL missile is outfitted by having an enlarged rocket motor, datalink, and jettisonable drag-reducing nose cone.
Within the BMC4I TOC, plug-and-fight versatility lets MEADS exchange data with non-MEADS sensors and shooters. Exactly the same capacity lets MEADS move with ground forces and interoperate with allied forces. Through interoperability features designed in to the system, MEADS will dramatically improve combat effectiveness and situational awareness, reducing the potential of friendly fire occurrences. MEADS system elements can seamlessly integrate into each nation’s, or NATO’s, combat architecture as needed.
Units could be spread more than a wide area. Command and charge of launchers and missiles could be paid to some neighboring fight management unit as the initial systems are moved, maintaining maneuver pressure protection. Plug-and-fight connectivity lets MEADS elements affix to and remove in the network when needed, with no reason to shut the machine lower.
The MEADS plug-and-fight capacity enables command and control of other air and missile immune system elements through open, non-proprietary standardized interfaces. MEADS implements a distinctive ability to utilize secondary missile systems if selected, and also to evolve as other abilities are developed.
In This summer 2010, the MEADS BMC4I shown its interoperability using the NATO Air Command and Control System (ACCS) during tests while using Active Layer Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD) Integration Test Bed being produced by NATO. The exam was an earlier maturity demonstration for that MEADS BMC4I capacity.
In August 2010, the MEADS program completed a comprehensive number of Critical Design Review (CDR) occasions having a Summary CDR at MEADS Worldwide. Reviewers from Germany, Italia, the U.S., and also the NATO Medium Extended Air Immune System Management Agency (NAMEADSMA) evaluated the MEADS design criteria inside a comprehensive number of 47 reviews.
In December 2010, the very first MEADS launcher and Tactical Operations Center were displayed in events in Germany and Italia before initiating system integration tests at Pratica di Mare Air Pressure Base in Italia.
In November 2011, it had been announced the MEADS Multifunction Fire Control Radar have been integrated having a MEADS TOC and launcher at Pratica di Mare Air Pressure Base. The objectives from the integration test series would show the MEADS TOC could control the MEADS MFCR in coordination using the MEADS Launcher as initial operational evidence of the plug-and-fight capacity. The MFCR shown key functionalities including 360-degree target acquisition and track using both dedicated flights along with other air traffic. Then, at White-colored Sands Missile Range, MEADS shown an initial-ever over-the-shoulder launch from the PAC-3 MSE missile against a simulated target attacking from behind. It needed a distinctive sideways maneuver, demonstrating a 360-degree capacity. The missile performed an organized self-destruct sequence in the finish from the mission after effectively engaging the simulated threat.
In November 2012 at White-colored Sands Missile Range, MEADS detected, tracked, intercepted, and destroyed an aura-breathing target within an intercept flight test. The exam configuration incorporated a networked MEADS Tactical Operations Center, lightweight launcher firing a PAC-3 MSE, along with a 360-degree MEADS Multifunction Fire Control Radar, which tracked the MQM-107 target and led the missile to some effective intercept.
Several progress milestones were shown during 2013, culminating inside a 360-degree dual-intercept test that went beyond initial contract objectives. In April, the MEADS Surveillance Radar acquired and tracked a little test aircraft and relayed its place to a MEADS TOC, which generated cue search instructions. The MFCR, entirely 360-degree rotating mode, looked the cued area, acquired the prospective, and established a passionate track.
In June 2013, during six times of testing, MEADS shown network interoperability with NATO systems during Joint Project Optic Windmill (JPOW) exercises. MEADS shown fight management capacity to deliver, receive, and process Link 16 messages and also to conduct threat engagements.
In November 2013, MEADS intercepted and destroyed two synchronised targets attacking from opposite directions throughout a stressing illustration showing its 360-degree AMD abilities at White-colored Sands Missile Range, Boise State Broncos. All aspects of the MEADS system were tested, such as the 360-degree MEADS Surveillance Radar, a networked MEADS fight manager, two lightweight launchers firing PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Missiles along with a 360-degree MEADS Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR). The flight test achieved all criteria for achievement.
The very first target, a QF-4 air-breathing target, contacted in the south like a Lance missile, flying a tactical ballistic missile trajectory, attacked in the north. The Surveillance Radar acquired both targets and provided target cues towards the MEADS fight manager, which generated cue instructions for that MFCR. The MFCR tracked both targets effectively and led missiles from launchers within the Italian and German configurations to effective intercepts.
At White-colored Sands Missile Range, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman also shown plug-and-fight connectivity between MEADS and also the U.S. Army’s Integrated Fight Command System (IBCS). IBCS shown capability to plug-and-fight a 360-degree MEADS Surveillance Radar and Multifunction Fire Control Radar.
In This summer 2014, MEADS completed an extensive system demonstration at Pratica di Mare Air Base, Italia. The tests, including operational demonstrations operated by German and Italian military personnel, specified for to seamlessly add and take away system elements under representative combat conditions, and also to blend MEADS along with other systems inside a bigger system architecture. All criteria for achievement were achieved.
Throughout the test, plug-and-fight capacity to quickly attach and control an exterior Italian deployable air defense radar was shown. Also shown was engage-on-remote versatility, which enables operators to focus on threats at greater distances despite being masked by terrain. Through reassigning workload, MEADS shown capability to maintain defense abilities or no system element sheds or fails.
Interoperability with German and Italian air defense assets was shown through exchange of standardized NATO messages. Italian air-defense assets were built-into an evaluation bed in an Italian national facility, as the Surface to Air Missile Operations Center and Patriot assets were built-into an evaluation bed in the German Air Pressure Air Defense Center in Fort Bliss, Texas. MEADS further shown capacity to do engagement coordination along with other systems, which fielded system are not able to complete.
In September 2014, MEADS MFCRs completed a six-week performance test at Pratica di Mare Air Base, Italia, and MBDA Deutschland’s air defense center in Freinhausen. Throughout the tests, the MEADS MFCR effectively shown several advanced abilities, a few of which are crucial for ground-mobile radar systems. Abilities tested include tracking and canceling of jamming signals searching, cueing and tracking in ground clutter and effectively classifying target data using kinematic information.
On 9 June 2015, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced that Germany had selected MEADS because the foundation because of its Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem (TVLS), that is planned to exchange Germany’s Patriot systems. In The month of january 2017, MEADS Worldwide presented an up-to-date offer for Poland’s medium-range air defense (Wisla) program to Poland’s Secretary of state for National Defense.