Contract Awarded for European Missile Defense

MEADS International has signed a $3.4 billion contract with NATO MEADS Management Agency to develop the Medium Extended Air Defense System, according to a MEADS International release (see GSN, April 21).

MEADS International is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin in the United States, MBDA in Italy and EADS/LFK in Germany.

“The MEADS program and its promise of unprecedented capability for the warfighter are moving forward,” said Lockheed Martin’s Jim Berry. “We will now complete development of the system and prepare it for production. That's important for our tri-national forces who have asked for greater mobility, interoperability and lethality.”

MEADS components would consist of launchers, 360-degree fire control, surveillance radars and plug-and-flight battle management control, all of which current missile defense systems lack, the company said.

The system is expected to take the place of Patriot systems in Germany and the United States and the Nike Hercules systems in Italy (MEADS International release).

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