Perspective air defense system MEADS
The name MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System) hides the European ground-based air defense system. This system will be able to hit both aircraft and tactical medium-range missiles (launch range to 1000 kilometers). The United States (58,1%), Germany (25,2%) and Italy (16,7%) participate in the development of the system, and it is possible that Qatar will be able to join its development in the very near future. This system is designed to replace the Patriot air defense systems in service.
In early November of this year, the national arms directors of the United States, Germany and Italy approved the amendment of the contract, which provide for further funding for the conduct of two tests of the MEADS air defense system. The new contract provides for tests to determine the characteristics of the missile sensors and determine the characteristics of the launcher before completing the development and design contract for the complex in 2014. At the same time, the amount of funding for the program was preserved under the 2004 agreements of the year. The planned amount of financing development is estimated at 4,2 billion dollars.
Tests on the interception of a ballistic missile and the verification of the detection system are scheduled for the next year, while the first tests have already taken place. 21 November 2011 of the year at the White Sands range, located in the state of New Mexico, were conducted successful flight tests of medium-range air defense systems MEADS. During the tests, a light launcher, an anti-aircraft guided missile PAC-3 MSE and a command and control system were used. The test program provided for the launch of a rocket at a simulating target, attacking from behind. Defeating her required a unique maneuver, which was to demonstrate that the complex was able to intercept targets in the 360 degrees sector. After successfully defeating the target-imitator, the interceptor missile self-destructed.
Earlier, in October, in the Orlando (USA), the MEADS command and control system battle facility was tested. The first launcher was delivered to the site after the integration of all systems by Lockheed Martin. The MEADS PU has the PAC-8 MSE anti-aircraft missiles 3 and can be transferred to the destination by air transport.
Even earlier, 20 December 2010 of the year, at the Italian Fusaro airbase, the MEADS complex was demonstrated for the first time. Before 2012, 5 similar PBUs should also be prepared. Point MEADS medium-range air defense complex of the complex is based on the Italian all-terrain vehicle ARIS. The use of a revolutionary open network architecture and standardized interfaces provides the control point with the ability to manage launchers and detection tools from various defense systems, including and non-MEADS.
Thanks to the use of new capabilities, launchers, various types of detection equipment and command and control points can act as a single MEADS network. Depending on the prevailing situation, the commander of the air defense system can exclude or, on the contrary, supplement the listed units without interruptions in the functioning of the system, ensuring concentration of combat capabilities and quick maneuver in the most dangerous areas. The minimum configuration of the complex is a set of radar target detection, PBU, launcher (all in a single copy). It is reported that the command and control center is fully compatible with advanced, modern control systems, for example, with NATO’s Air Command and Control System.
In February of this year, the US Department of Defense made a statement that it could stop funding this project from 2014 of the year, at the end of all phases of the demonstration and development of the system due to the lack of necessary financial resources. At the same time, it was reported that Qatar had entered into negotiations on participation in the program together with Germany and Italy. At the same time, experts note that the entry into the Qatar project will not be able to compensate for the exit from the United States. Defense News reports on negotiating with Qatar, citing sources close to the developers of the program.
Qatar is interested in this complex, as in the country 2022 will host the World Cup. According to Defense News, Qatar shows heightened concern about a possible missile threat from Iran.
To date, the United States has already spent billion dollars from 1,5 billion of planned funds on the 4,2 program. Prior to 2014, the Pentagon plans to spend on the implementation of the program about another 800 million dollars. Despite objections from a number of congressmen, Barack Obama recommended the Ministry of Defense to complete the implementation of this project in order to avoid paying penalties, as well as fulfilling obligations to its international partners.
The MEADS complex is able to provide all-round anti-missile and air defense defense to groups of troops and important objects from enemy cruise and tactical missiles, aircraft and UAVs. According to the information provided by the developers of the complex, the MEADS cover zone in 8 is more than the same figures for the existing Western air defense systems, while at the same time providing a significant reduction in the costs of material support and support staff. It is assumed that such systems will replace Patriot air defense systems and outdated Hawk in Germany and Nike Hercules in Italy.
A feature of the system is the possibility of forming a complete set depending on the degree of the perceived threat, which provides the possibility of operatively combining ready-made modules, including command and control points, radar detection and launchers. According to preliminary information, after completion of the tests, the United States intended to acquire 48 complexes, Germany - 24, Italy - 9.
It is worth noting that the MEADS air defense system, unlike the Patriot air defense system, is able to intercept targets flying from different directions using only one launcher. The US Patriot PAC-3 air defense / missile defense system required the military to deploy more than one launcher, and no less than four, to all sides of the world in order to protect a group of troops or an important object. This is explained by the fact that in this complex, guides with rockets are angled to the horizon and are capable of launching rockets only in the direction from which the target appears.
It is worth noting that this approach was, to put it mildly, very costly and inconvenient in terms of time deployment and missile spending. At the same time, the Russian C-300B and C-300PMU anti-aircraft defense systems initially deploy their launch containers with missiles strictly vertically. The launch of the missiles also takes place, after which it is already in the air making a turn in the direction of the detected target. It is absolutely unimportant from which direction it attacks the guarded object or group of troops. The development and testing of medium-range air defense systems MEADS indicate that the United States has finally understood which method of deploying missiles is most effective for air defense / missile defense systems.
Specifications MEADS SAM
Target hit range:
ballistic missiles - 3-35 km.
Aircraft - 3-100 km.
The maximum height of destruction of targets - 25 km.
Maximum flight speed of an anti-aircraft guided missile - 1400 / s
Average flight speed of an anti-aircraft guided missile 900-1000 m / s
Maximum overload:
15g - with flight altitude H = 15km
60g - with flight altitude H = 0
Mass rocket warheads - 15-20 kg.
Rocket launch weight - 510 kg.
In early November of this year, the national arms directors of the United States, Germany and Italy approved the amendment of the contract, which provide for further funding for the conduct of two tests of the MEADS air defense system. The new contract provides for tests to determine the characteristics of the missile sensors and determine the characteristics of the launcher before completing the development and design contract for the complex in 2014. At the same time, the amount of funding for the program was preserved under the 2004 agreements of the year. The planned amount of financing development is estimated at 4,2 billion dollars.
Tests on the interception of a ballistic missile and the verification of the detection system are scheduled for the next year, while the first tests have already taken place. 21 November 2011 of the year at the White Sands range, located in the state of New Mexico, were conducted successful flight tests of medium-range air defense systems MEADS. During the tests, a light launcher, an anti-aircraft guided missile PAC-3 MSE and a command and control system were used. The test program provided for the launch of a rocket at a simulating target, attacking from behind. Defeating her required a unique maneuver, which was to demonstrate that the complex was able to intercept targets in the 360 degrees sector. After successfully defeating the target-imitator, the interceptor missile self-destructed.
Earlier, in October, in the Orlando (USA), the MEADS command and control system battle facility was tested. The first launcher was delivered to the site after the integration of all systems by Lockheed Martin. The MEADS PU has the PAC-8 MSE anti-aircraft missiles 3 and can be transferred to the destination by air transport.
Even earlier, 20 December 2010 of the year, at the Italian Fusaro airbase, the MEADS complex was demonstrated for the first time. Before 2012, 5 similar PBUs should also be prepared. Point MEADS medium-range air defense complex of the complex is based on the Italian all-terrain vehicle ARIS. The use of a revolutionary open network architecture and standardized interfaces provides the control point with the ability to manage launchers and detection tools from various defense systems, including and non-MEADS.
Thanks to the use of new capabilities, launchers, various types of detection equipment and command and control points can act as a single MEADS network. Depending on the prevailing situation, the commander of the air defense system can exclude or, on the contrary, supplement the listed units without interruptions in the functioning of the system, ensuring concentration of combat capabilities and quick maneuver in the most dangerous areas. The minimum configuration of the complex is a set of radar target detection, PBU, launcher (all in a single copy). It is reported that the command and control center is fully compatible with advanced, modern control systems, for example, with NATO’s Air Command and Control System.
In February of this year, the US Department of Defense made a statement that it could stop funding this project from 2014 of the year, at the end of all phases of the demonstration and development of the system due to the lack of necessary financial resources. At the same time, it was reported that Qatar had entered into negotiations on participation in the program together with Germany and Italy. At the same time, experts note that the entry into the Qatar project will not be able to compensate for the exit from the United States. Defense News reports on negotiating with Qatar, citing sources close to the developers of the program.
Qatar is interested in this complex, as in the country 2022 will host the World Cup. According to Defense News, Qatar shows heightened concern about a possible missile threat from Iran.
To date, the United States has already spent billion dollars from 1,5 billion of planned funds on the 4,2 program. Prior to 2014, the Pentagon plans to spend on the implementation of the program about another 800 million dollars. Despite objections from a number of congressmen, Barack Obama recommended the Ministry of Defense to complete the implementation of this project in order to avoid paying penalties, as well as fulfilling obligations to its international partners.
The MEADS complex is able to provide all-round anti-missile and air defense defense to groups of troops and important objects from enemy cruise and tactical missiles, aircraft and UAVs. According to the information provided by the developers of the complex, the MEADS cover zone in 8 is more than the same figures for the existing Western air defense systems, while at the same time providing a significant reduction in the costs of material support and support staff. It is assumed that such systems will replace Patriot air defense systems and outdated Hawk in Germany and Nike Hercules in Italy.
A feature of the system is the possibility of forming a complete set depending on the degree of the perceived threat, which provides the possibility of operatively combining ready-made modules, including command and control points, radar detection and launchers. According to preliminary information, after completion of the tests, the United States intended to acquire 48 complexes, Germany - 24, Italy - 9.
It is worth noting that the MEADS air defense system, unlike the Patriot air defense system, is able to intercept targets flying from different directions using only one launcher. The US Patriot PAC-3 air defense / missile defense system required the military to deploy more than one launcher, and no less than four, to all sides of the world in order to protect a group of troops or an important object. This is explained by the fact that in this complex, guides with rockets are angled to the horizon and are capable of launching rockets only in the direction from which the target appears.
It is worth noting that this approach was, to put it mildly, very costly and inconvenient in terms of time deployment and missile spending. At the same time, the Russian C-300B and C-300PMU anti-aircraft defense systems initially deploy their launch containers with missiles strictly vertically. The launch of the missiles also takes place, after which it is already in the air making a turn in the direction of the detected target. It is absolutely unimportant from which direction it attacks the guarded object or group of troops. The development and testing of medium-range air defense systems MEADS indicate that the United States has finally understood which method of deploying missiles is most effective for air defense / missile defense systems.
Specifications MEADS SAM
Target hit range:
ballistic missiles - 3-35 km.
Aircraft - 3-100 km.
The maximum height of destruction of targets - 25 km.
Maximum flight speed of an anti-aircraft guided missile - 1400 / s
Average flight speed of an anti-aircraft guided missile 900-1000 m / s
Maximum overload:
15g - with flight altitude H = 15km
60g - with flight altitude H = 0
Mass rocket warheads - 15-20 kg.
Rocket launch weight - 510 kg.
Information