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Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)
| Country: | USA |
|---|---|
| Basing: | Land |
| In Service: | Exp. 2014 |
| Associated Country: | Germany, Italy |
Details
The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) is a tri-national project of the United States, Germany, and Italy. Once operational, it will use the new Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles to protect ground forces and fixed military positions against attack from tactical ballistic missiles, low and high altitude cruise missiles, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
As a mobile land-based surface-to-air missile system, MEADS will bridge the gap between smaller portable surface-to-air systems like the Stinger missile and the higher levels of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System, such as the Terminal High Altitude Defense System (THAAD). Unlike the old Patriot system, MEADS will provide 360-degree coverage and will roll directly off transport vehicles into combat situations.
The project began in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the U.S. Army and Marine Corps created the Corps SAM program to replace the Hawk Air Defense System that had been in service since the 1960s. In 1995, Corps SAM was renamed MEADS and became a multinational partnership. Participating companies currently include Lockheed Martin (U.S.), European Aeronautic Defence and Space (Germany), and MBDA (Italy). Funding is also collaborative: the U.S. pays 58 percent, Germany pays 25 percent, and Italy pays 17 percent.
In late 2003, the U.S. decided to merge MEADS with the PAC-3 program, thus combining the management, development, and fielding components of the two systems under the auspices of the Army. The system’s six major equipment items are: Multifunction Fire Control Radar; Surveillance Radar; Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (BMC4I); Certified Missile Round (PAC-3 Missile and canister); Launcher; and Reloader.
In a typical battle scenario, the truck-mounted surveillance radar will scan the horizon for threats. It will provide 360-degree coverage and will be nearly impossible to jam. The BMC4I system will link all components and provide access to other radars and satellites, thus integrating MEADS into MDA’s broader missile defense architecture.
Once an incoming missile has been detected, the radar will produce detailed tracking reports, and the BMC4I will send its launch commands to the multi-canister mobile launchers. Each launcher will be capable of holding multiple PAC-3 interceptors, and will be mounted on a wheeled vehicle. The Army will be able to roll the mobile launchers on and off C-130 and A400M transport aircraft for rapid deployment. In the combat zone, the mobile launchers will keep pace with fast moving ground forces. To reduce the risk of detection, the Army will be able to place these launchers far away from radar and BMC4I units.
The PAC-3 interceptor itself, 17.1 feet long and 10 inches in diameter, is an upgraded version of the PAC-2. The main difference lies in the kill mechanism: while the PAC-2 uses an exploding warhead to eliminate its targets, the PAC-3 is a hit-to-kill system and destroys its targets by the kinetic energy released in a head-on collision.
Once launched, the PAC-3 will streak toward its target, receiving initial guidance from the X-band multi-function fire control radar. As the interceptor closes in on the target, PAC-3’s active seeker recalculates the trajectory and makes adjustments to the interceptor’s speed and direction. The PAC-3 will collide with the incoming missile (like a bullet hitting a bullet), causing complete destruction of the warhead, including any nuclear, chemical, or biological agents.
In late 2003, MEADS successfully demonstrated its ability to detect, track, and destroy simulated aircraft and missile targets in a test at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Syracuse, New York. In March 2004, two PAC-3 missiles destroyed a large target missile at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The target missile had been modified to represent a short-range tactical ballistic missile and programmed to simulate the flight patterns of a Scud missile.
In September 2004, MEADS International (MI) received a 9-year $3.4 billion Design and Development letter contract to design and develop MEADS. The contract award followed a series of successful system demonstrations and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Italy. Germany signed the agreement following parliamentary action in April 2005. Germany and Italy have expressed concern about proposed cuts to their work share, limitations to their role in testing, and restrictions on technology sharing.
The U.S., however, maintains that MEADS is an essential part of its missile defense architecture. In a March 2004 letter, the Pentagon stressed the importance of a “fair and balanced” missile defense program between the three allies. MEADS remains on schedule for initial deployment in 2014.
Sources
Army Technology.
Federation of American Scientists.
GlobalSecurity.org.
Hsu, Emily. “Army To Expand MEADS Risk Reduction Effort To ‘Bridge’ SDD Delay.” Inside the Army, 9 February 2004.
Hsu, Emily. “OSD Tries To Reassure Allies On MEADS Tech Transfer, Workshare.” Inside Missile Defense, 31 March 2004.
Hsu, Emily. “Pentagon Tries To Quell European Partners’ MEADS Concerns.” Inside Missile Defense, 14 April 2004.
Lockheed Martin Corporation.
“MEADS Demonstrates Track and Destroy Capabilities In Simulation Test.” Defense Daily International, 15 August 2003.
Missile Defense Agency.
“Pentagon Gives Nod To MEADS Missile System.” Reuters News, 2 February 2004.
Roosevelt, Ann. “MEADS Demonstration This Month In Italy.” Defense Daily, 9 March 2004.
Roosevelt, Ann. “MEADS System Demonstration Postponed.” Defense Daily, 25 March 2004.
Sherman, Jason, and Gopal Ratnam. “Globalizing Missile Defense; Is the U.S. Finally Serious About Hiring Foreign Firms?” Defense News, 22 March 2004.
Germany to Devote 1.25 Billion for MEADS
Germany will spend some 1.25 billion dollars on ballistic missile defense over the next eight years, reports the Agence France-Presse, primarily on the cooperative U.S.-Germany-Italy program, the Medium Extended Air Defense System, or MEADS, designed to succeed, and eventually replace the current Patriot interceptors based in Germany and elsewhere.
MEADS is similar to Patriot in that both intercept missiles in their terminal, or descent phase. MEADS will be a successor, and have a longer range, as much as 1,000km. Part of Germany’s funds will go to the order of between 12 and 24 of the MEADS units, according to German lawmaker Hans-Peter Bartels of the governing Social Democrats. The existing Patriot interceptors in Germany would be gradually replaced.
German and Italian interest in the system reflects a growing shift in opinion, worldwide, that deterrence may fail, and that systems need to be in place for if and when that day comes.
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MEADS Development to Begin
The United States, Germany, and Italy will soon begin full development of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) system, the successor to the Patriot program, according to the July 15 edition of Defense Today.
Negotiations to produce a memorandum of understanding are expected to be completed this week, with contracts to produce the missile defense system by the end of the year.
» Missile system details for: Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)
Adelman on MEADS
Ken Adelman, assistant to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from 1975 to 1977 and U.N. ambassador and arms-control director under President Ronald Reagan, discusses the “next generation” of SDI, and the capabilities of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS).
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