The U.S., German and Italian Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program is focused on its first intercept flight this fall at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., according to an official with the multi-national joint venture prime contractor MEADS International.
“Currently there are no technical show stoppers for that flight test,” said Marty Coyne, MEADS director of business development during a conference call with media recently.
The test will introduce the multi-function fire control radar (MFCR), an X-band 360 degree radar recently successfully integrated with a MEADS battle manager and launcher at Pratica di Mare Air Base near Rome, Italy.
The MFCR was airlifted to White Sands Missile Range and now all items needed for the flight test are here in the United States, Coyne said, speaking from the annual Space & Missile Defense Conference in Huntsville, Ala.
MEADS International Technical Director Marco Riccetti said in a statement: “Integration of the MFCR, Battle Manager and Launcher is proving that all elements are capable of tracking live targets and engaging them virtually. We are on track for a successful intercept flight test at White Sands Missile Range later this year.”
The intercept flight test would be the culmination of the system design and development (SDD) phase of the program. None of the three nations plan to procure systems at this point, but do want to harvest what has been developed.
The intercept flight test will come nearly a year after the Nov. 17, 2011 first flight test with its “unprecedented” over the shoulder launch demonstrating a 360 degree capability for an air and missile defense system.
Meanwhile, program funding–some $380 million–to complete SDD–remains in doubt, despite strong support from the Secretary of Defense and his German and Italian counterparts and the support of the top DoD acquisition official.
“We have always remained cautiously optimistic that in the end when lawmakers looked at the advanced capability as well as the reduced cost of MEADS and coupled that with the commitment to our partners again we remain optimistic we would receive the funding,” Coyne said.
Optimism increased two weeks ago when the Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $380 million for the program in its markup of the FY ’13 Defense Appropriations Bill.
“That said, we know the budget process continues so the best thing that we can do is just remain focused on the contract and demonstrate the advanced capabilities of MEADS,” Coyne said.
Major subcontractors and joint venture partners to MEADS International are MBDA in Italy and Germany, and Lockheed Martin [LMT] in the United States.
The MEADS program management agency NAMEADSMA is located in Huntsville, Ala.