Philip Smart | Adelaide
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence has chosen MBDA’s Medium Extended Air Defence System (MEADS) as the basis of its national missile-based Tactical Air Defence System, selecting the locally developed product over an updated version of the Patriot system it has used since the 1980s.
MEADS, developed through an MBDA / Lockheed Martin cooperative venture called MEADS International, is a mobile system that can be used for both national and alliance defence and to protect deployed troops during operations. The package combines the Lockheed Martin “hit-to-kill” PAC-3 MSE missile with surveillance and fire control centres, tactical operations centres and lightweight missile launchers.
The system’s features includes 360-degree coverage, open system architecture and "plug and fight” capability, which allows for the coupling of additional sensors and weapon systems, as well as rapid deployability. MBDA said the TLVS air defence system can be operated at a significantly lower cost to the user than existing systems and with fewer personnel.
TLVS is being carried out under the system leadership of MBDA Deutschland, with Germany shouldering 25% of the development cost. Development has involved the skills and personnel of MBDA Italia, Lockheed Martin and Airbus Defence and Space as well as German and international subcontractors.