|
During AUSA Winter, Lockheed Martin gave a number of comprehensive briefs outlining the Corporation’s capability in layered missile defence from MEADS thru THAAD to PAC-3.
The tri-national Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)
Steve Barnoske, President of the MEADS International Joint Venture, and Mr. Gregory Kee, General Manager for the NATO MEADS Management Agency, gave a brief on the latest MEADS developments.
In August 2009, the MEADS program successfully completed Critical Design Reviews (CDRs) for all major components, clearing the way for production of radars, launchers, tactical operation centers, and reloaders needed for system tests at White Sands Missile Range, NM.
Under its design and development contract, MEADS International will provide six Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Tactical Operations Centers, four launchers, one reloader, three surveillance radars, three multifunction fire control radars, and 20 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missile rounds for the tests, expected to begin in 2012.
“We have already produced and qualified a significant portion of the subsystem hardware, providing increased confidence in our major end item products,” said MI President Steve Barnoske.
“These timely approvals keep all MEADS system elements on schedule for integration and testing and ultimately for deployment to U.S. and allied forces.”
MEADS will meet challenging new requirements not addressed by any previous or planned Air and Missile Defense system. Under development by Germany, Italy and the United States, MEADS is a mobile system that will replace Patriot in the United States and Nike Hercules in Italy. It will replace Hawk and Patriot systems in Germany. The system is designed to permit full interoperability between the U.S. and allied armies, and it is the only medium-range air defense system to provide full 360-degree coverage.
With completion of the component-level design reviews, the MEADS program successfully met criteria to begin a series of system-level CDR events. The tri-national AMD system continues to demonstrate significant progress toward final design approval in August 2010.
“Entering the system CDR phase is a significant milestone for the MEADS program,” said MI President Steve Barnoske.
“MEADS is an extraordinary system that will provide superior protection for maneuver forces and critical assets against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft and unmanned aerial systems. We are ready to demonstrate that the MEADS system design has matured to the requirements set out by Germany, Italy and the United States.”
A total of 15 system-level CDR events will be completed in August 2010. These events permit final evaluation of MEADS survivability, logistics, safety, integration and test, life cycle cost, and performance.
In January 2009, EADS Defence Electronics business unit delivered a first batch of 5,000 transmit/receive (T/R) modules and related electronics for the MEADS Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR). Within the framework of the MEADS design and development programme, EADS Defence Electronics was awarded a contract worth about €120 million for the production of approx. 40,000 T/R modules and associated electronic components, so-called manifolds, which will make the MEADS fire control radar the most powerful radar of its type in the world. These modules are key elements in the new generation of radar systems which are based on AESA technology. LFK GmbH/MBDA Germany are responsible for the complete radar antenna.
In October 2009, the MEADS program received approval to use a European cryptographic device to implement Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), a critical capability that protects friendly aircraft from engagement by air defenses. For U.S. MEADS systems, a waiver from the U.S. National Security Agency makes MEADS the first U.S. system ever to incorporate a non-U.S. cryptographic device. Italy’s SELEX Sistemi Integrati manufactures these state-of-the-art MEADS IFF units, which meet European, U.S. and NATO standards for identification of military and civilian aircraft, and fulfill a defined set of additional requirements for MEADS.
On 15 March, Defense News reported that Senior U.S. Army officials who met with representatives from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) March 10 reached no decision on whether to transfer management of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program to the agency, according to a defense official. Instead, senior officials from both organizations agreed that follow-up questions needed to be answered and additional analysis was needed before deciding to transfer management and funding of the program from the Army to MDA, said the defense official. MEADS is a missile defense development effort among the United States, Italy and Germany. Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, Army spokesman, confirmed the meeting took place and described it as “a regular internal meeting that covered a number of topics.” However, according to the defense official, more high-level Army officials than expected attended the meeting, which addressed a possible transfer of MEADS, as well as the Missile Segment Enhancement program.
The United States funds 58 percent of the MEADS development program, Germany 25 percent and Italy 17 percent. Lockheed Martin leads the international industry team developing the system. Lockheed Martin is also the prime contractor for the Missile Segment Enhancement program, an effort to improve the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile. The missile was also selected as the primary interceptor for MEADS.
MEADS is one of several programs being looked at in an air-and-missile-defense portfolio review being led by Gen. Peter Chiarelli, U.S. Army vice chief of staff. The high-level reviews are comparing capabilities and costs within and across portfolios. The Pentagon's Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Office is also doing a new cost estimate for the MEADS program, for which the design-and-development contract totals roughly $3.4 billion.
“We believe that future MEADS production costs will be comparable to other air and missile defense systems. Estimates being generated today have the benefit of actual costs of key components like the interceptor, Transmit/Receive modules for both radars, software and launcher electronics. Additionally, operations and sustainment costs for MEADS are forecast to be nearly half of what it costs to maintain Patriot,” said Kee.
The U.S.-managed portion of MEADS follows the DoD-wide acquisition regulations that major programs have to follow, said a defense official. As such, the U.S. part of the program is subject to and is compliant with Nunn-McCurdy law, said the official. Nunn-McCurdy stipulates that Congress be notified of programs with cost growth of more than 15 percent, and termination of programs whose total cost grew by more than 25 percent over the original estimate, unless the defense secretary provides adequate explanation why the cost growth is necessary. A system-level critical design review for MEADS is scheduled for August.
“As an American, and the government lead responsible for the overall MEADS program on behalf of NATO and the U.S., German and Italian governments, I can state unequivocally that the benefits of international cooperation extend far beyond the cost sharing (42 percent),” said Kee.
“European participation has freed up over $1.6 billion in budget authority that has been applied to other U.S. defense needs. The contributions by German and Italian industry are world-class, and having such an advanced capability as MEADS in the hands of our allies ensures the U.S. doesn’t have to respond unilaterally to every military crisis that threatens U.S. citizens or interests worldwide. Furthermore, having the same system among coalition partners and NATO promotes interoperability, cooperation and exchange of information among allied forces. I expect that in the future, MEADS will be purchased and fielded by many of our allies throughout NATO and elsewhere,” Kee said.
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
Shirley Gray-Lewis, Business Development Director, THAAD, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, gave a THAAD update during AUSA.
“Flight testing of the THAAD development program began in late 2005 with the first of 14 flight tests. Pre-development testing began in 200 with a risk reduction Program which resulted in two successful intercepts. THAAD is a key element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System, it complements Patriot and MEADS as it extends the protection level to the endo-atmosphere, above the short, long and intermediate threat. It is interoperable with Aegis and patriot systems. THAAD has an X-Band radar controlling none launchers, each launcher has eight interceptors.” Shirley Gray-Lewis said.
THAAD will provide rapidly deployable ground-based missile defense components that deepen, extend and complement the BMDS to any Combatant Commander to defeat ballistic missile of all types and ranges while in all phases of flight. THAAD’s combination of high-altitude, long-range capability and hit-to-kill lethality enables it to effectively negate the effects of weapons of mass destruction at intercept ranges well beyond the defended area. These attributes, along with THAAD’s unique endo-and exo-atmospheric capability, enlarge the battle space to allow multiple intercept opportunities in both the late-midcourse and terminal phases of ballistic missile trajectories. THAAD can accept cues from Aegis, satellites and other external sensors to further extend the battle space and defended area coverage. THAAD will operate in concert with the lower-tier PAC-3 system to provide increased levels of effectiveness. The THAAD element consists of five major components: missiles, launchers, radars, fire control; and THAAD-specific support equipment. All components have been successfully integrated, tested and demonstrated during the first program phase that concluded in 1999.
THAAD has completed 10 successful flights with 6 out of 6 intercepts in all areas of the battlespace. The first flight was in March 2009, with the next one expected in the summer of 2010. The radar can track multiple targets at a much longer range than originally specified and can see through fly ash to track the next target. Batteries 1 & 2 have been delivered with 3 & 4 on contract for 3rd Quarter FY10. The number of launchers per battery has increased from 3 to 6 and numbers of interceptors from 289 to 431. There will be a total of 9 batteries thru FY15 including numbers 1 to 4. Two batteries have been activated at Fort Bliss with a team of 89 soldiers manning the systems.
Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Ben Hobson of Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control gave a brief during AUSA.
“In 2009, we achieved four intercepts with PAC-3 at White Sands following the December 2009 contract award for 250 systems. In April 2010 we will deliver the 100th launcher and the 1000th PAC-3 missile in August under the 11th production contract. We have achieved 23 out of 27 successful intercepts.” Hobson said.
PAC-3 has a 16 missile pack compared to 4 for Patriot with greater altitude and range.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Dallas, Texas, is the prime contractor on the PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade to the Patriot air defense system. The PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade consists of the PAC-3 Missile, a highly agile hit-to-kill interceptor, the PAC-3 Missile canisters (in four packs), a fire solution computer and an Enhanced Launcher Electronics System (ELES). These elements are integrated into the Patriot system, a high to medium altitude, long-range air defense missile system providing air defense of ground combat forces and high-value assets.
Lockheed Martin is producing the combat-proven PAC-3 Missile under production contracts from the U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Program Executive Office and multiple international customers. The PAC-3 Missile is being incorporated into the Patriot air defense system.
The ‘hit-to-kill’ PAC-3 Missile is the world’s most advanced, capable and powerful terminal air defense missile. It defeats the entire threat: tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs), cruise missiles and aircraft. The PAC-3 Missile is a quantum leap ahead of any other air defense missile when it comes to the ability to protect the Warfighter in their defining moments.
The PAC-3 Missile is a high velocity interceptor that defeats incoming targets by direct, body-to-body impact. PAC-3 Missiles, when deployed in a Patriot battery, will significantly increase the Patriot system's firepower, since 16 PAC-3s load-out on a Patriot launcher, compared with four of the legacy Patriot PAC-2 missiles. One hundred percent effective in Operation Iraqi Freedom, PAC-3 Missiles are now deployed with U.S. and allied forces.
The PAC-3 Missile uses a solid propellant rocket motor, aerodynamic controls, attitude control motors (ACMs) and inertial guidance to navigate. The missile flies to an intercept point specified prior to launch by its ground-based fire solution computer, which is embedded in the engagement control station. Target trajectory data can be updated during missile flyout by means of a radio frequency uplink/downlink.
Shortly before arrival at the intercept point, the PAC-3 Missile's on board Ka band seeker acquires the target, selects the optimal aim point and terminal guidance is initiated. The ACMs, which are small, short duration solid propellant rocket motors located in the missile forebody, fire explosively to refine the missile's course to assure body-to-body impact.
The PAC-3 MSE Missile was selected as the primary interceptor for the multi-national Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). Managed by the NATO MEADS Management Agency (NAMEADSMA), MEADS is a model transatlantic development program focused on the next generation of air and missile defense.
Patriot systems have been sold to elevn countries, including Taiwan, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates,[2] and Spain. Poland will host several Patriot launchers from April 2010. The system will be integrated into Polish air defence system until 2012[3]. The Republic of Korea is also in the process of purchasing several second-hand Patriot systems
Conclusion
At a time of heightened tension around the world with North Korea and Iran in particular openly demonstrating new long-range missile capability, Lockheed Martin is well placed to meet the growing needs of customers, particularly in the Middle East. Patriot sales are on the increase with Taiwan becoming the 11th customer. Taiwan will use the PAC-3 missile in the systems, the 5th PAC-3 user. Lockheed Martin is unique in its ability to provide layered missile defense from low level to the high eco-atmosphere. Coupled to other systems such as Hellfire, Javelin, Aegis and GMLRS, Lockheed can provide a networked missile defense system covering all land, sea and air requirements.
Page | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Next page | Previous Page |
