All elements of the MEADS
system were tested, including the 360-degree MEADS Surveillance Radar,
a networked MEADS battle manager, two lightweight launchers firing PAC-3
Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Missiles and a 360-degree MEADS Multifunction
Fire Control Radar (MFCR). All system elements worked as planned.
MEADS
is a next-generation, ground-mobile AMD system that incorporates 360-degree
radars, netted and distributed battle management, easily transportable
launchers and the hit-to-kill PAC-3 MSE Missile.
The first target, a QF-4 air-breathing target, approached from the south
as a Lance missile, flying a tactical ballistic missile trajectory,
attacked from the north. The Surveillance Radar acquired both targets
and provided target cues to the MEADS battle manager, which generated
cue commands for the MFCR. The MFCR tracked both targets successfully
and guided missiles from launchers in the Italian and German configuration
to successful intercepts.
“Today’s successful flight test is the culmination of three
countries working together to design, develop and build the most advanced
and capable air and missile defense weapon system in the world. No fielded
ground-mobile AMD System can intercept targets from two directions at
the same time, as MEADS did today,” said NATO MEADS
Management Agency General Manager Gregory Kee. “MEADS technology
can now be leveraged as mature, network-ready battle management, sensors
and launchers to achieve the networked AMD capabilities envisioned by
Germany, Italy and the United States.”
The test demonstrated over-the-shoulder maneuverability of the PAC-3
MSE Missile in engaging the targets.
“Based on the maturity of the MEADS
hardware and software, we asked our customer to expand this test to
a dual intercept,” said MEADS International President Dave Berganini.
“The MEADS program continues to meet or exceed its commitments.
Earlier this year, MEADS successfully demonstrated radar cueing, interoperability
with networked NATO systems during Joint Project Optic Windmill (JPOW)
and certification of our Mode 5 IFF system. Now we’re thrilled
to demonstrate an unprecedented dual-intercept that has met test objectives
and readies MEADS for further development and testing in Europe.”
The MEADS
program is 3-for-3 in achieving flight test objectives. In November
2011, MEADS performed a simulated intercept of an air-breathing target.
In November 2012, MEADS acquired, tracked and destroyed an MQM-107 target.
Both tests demonstrated full-perimeter, 360-degree defense with the
PAC-3 MSE Missile performing unique over-the-shoulder maneuvers to defeat
targets attacking from behind the MEADS emplacement.
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.
The MEADS program management agency NAMEADSMA is located in Huntsville,
Ala.
|
