MEADS missile system fire control radar MFCR finishes integration and test events in Italy 1209124.

MEADS International President Dave Berganini said, “The MEADS MFCR combines extraordinary capability and cost effectiveness. It can detect and track advanced threats with 360- degree coverage and no blind spots. Unlike fielded radars, it is highly mobile and C-130 transportable.”

The MFCR has been airlifted to White Sands Missile Range, N.M., in preparation for an intercept flight test later this year.

The MFCR is an X-band, solid-state, phased array radar using element-level transmit/receive modules. It provides precision tracking and wideband discrimination and classification capabilities. For extremely rapid deployments, the MEADS MFCR can provide both surveillance and fire control capabilities until a surveillance radar joins the network. The MFCR uses its main beam for uplink and downlink missile communications. An advanced Mode 5 identify friend-orfoe subsystem supports improved threat identification and typing.

Through its plug-and-fight capability, the MFCR simply acts as a node on the MEADS network. The MEADS battle manager lets a commander dynamically add or subtract sensors and shooters as the situation dictates without shutting the system down.

MEADS International Technical Director Marco Riccetti said, “Integration of the MFCR, Battle Manager and Launcher is proving that all elements are capable of tracking live targets and engaging them virtually. We are on track for a successful intercept flight test at White Sands Missile Range later this year.”

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 and Germany, and Lockheed Martin in the United States.