MEADS achieves new programme milestone
The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) has marked a new milestone with the successful interception of two simultaneous targets attacking from opposite directions during a stressing demonstration at White Sands Missile Range. The targets were both destroyed and the flight test achieved all criteria for success.
The demonstration was part of tests on the system’s 360-degree air and missile defence (AMD) capabilities. 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 are reported to have worked as planned.
During the test, 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.
Gregory Kee, general manager, NATO MEADS Management Agency, said: ‘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 defence 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.
‘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 US.’
The test also demonstrated over-the-shoulder manoeuvrability of the PAC-3 MSE missile in engaging the targets.
The MEADS programme has now achieved three flight test objectives; also including the successful simulated intercept of an air-breathing target; and the acquiring, tracking and destroying of an MQM-107 target.
More from Land Warfare
-
Lockheed Martin awarded $2.8 billion THAAD development contract
The contract amount for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System will support its continued development over the next five years, with two options to extend for up to 10 years.
-
Germany takes first Boxer air defence vehicle and prepares for evaluation trials
The Skyranger air defence system for Germany is built around the Boxer 8x8, a platform which is in service with, or ordered by, six countries.
-
Oshkosh awarded $215 million in truck contracts
Oshkosh Defence has sold more than 2,000 Family of Medium Truck Vehicles (FMTV) A2 trucks and completed air drops of the M1093A2 (A2) FMTV trucks from Boeing C-17 heavy lift and Lockheed Martin C-130 tactical lift aircraft in 2024.
-
UK and US militaries advance mobile directed energy weapon systems
Recent tests have demonstrated how the UK and US armed forces have been scaling DEWs for mobile field-based operations.