IDGA Q&A: GREGORY L. KEE, General Manager, NATO MEADS Management Agency

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IDGA: Could you tell us a little about the MEADS System?

GK:  The Medium Extended Air Defense System or MEADS is a mobile Air and Missile Defense System that incorporates the hit-to-kill PAC-3 MSE missile in a system that includes 360-degree surveillance and fire control sensors, netted-distributed battle management/communication centers and high-firepower launchers. The system will combine superior battlefield protection with extensive flexibility, allowing it to protect maneuver forces and critical assets against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and aircraft.

Additionally MEADS is easily transportable, tactically mobile and because it has no blind spots against the evolving threat and offers improved range, interoperability and mobility, MEADS improves capability to defend troops, friends and allies in critical areas around the globe.

MEADS defends up to 8 times the coverage area of other systems but uses far fewer system assets.  This allows for a substantial reduction in deployed personnel and equipment, and reduces demand for airlift.

 IDGA:  How is the MEADS program different than other US acquisition programs?

GK:  First, MEADS is a NATO program that the US is a part of.  It is a unique US-European cooperative program that was designed to replace Patriot in the United States and Nike Hercules in Italy. It was also designed to replace Patriot and the retired Hawk system in Germany.  The United States funds 58 percent of the MEADS program, and European partners Germany and Italy fund 25 percent and 17 percent respectively.  In fact, European participation has freed up more than $1.6 billion in budget authority that has been applied to other US 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.

 IDGA:  MEADS recently had a successful launch. Tell us about it.

 GK:  Absolutely, on 17 Nov 2011 the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) successfully completed its first flight test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.   The PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) MEADS Certified Missile Round was employed during the test along with the MEADS lightweight launcher and battle manager.  The test demonstrated an unprecedented over-the-shoulder launch of the MSE missile against a simulated target attacking from behind.  It required a unique sideways maneuver, demonstrating a 360-degree capability.  The missile executed a planned self-destruct sequence at the end of the mission after successfully engaging the simulated threat.

MEADS demonstrated its ability to engage and defeat a target coming from anywhere using just a single launcher.  The MEADS lightweight launcher is one of the most advanced mobile launchers in existence today and was designed to be easily adaptable to a variety of vehicles.

So, I would call the launch a tremendous success.  We met the objectives of the launch.  They included:  reducing risk for future flight tests; demonstrating MEADS launch sequence and timeline; demonstrating MEADS launcher functionality and mechanical design robustness during MSE launch event; demonstrating 360-degree capability of weapon system and demonstrating BMC4I (Battle Manager) hardware integration.

IDGA:  You’ve mentioned that MEADS is more affordable than current systems.  Can you elaborate?

GK:  At a time of decreasing resources across all three nations, MEADS does more and costs less over the life of the system. Studies show that MEADS can defend up to 8 times the area of current systems with fewer system elements.  The combination of advanced 360-degree sensors, near-vertical launch capability, and the improved PAC-3 MSE Missile gives MEADS a far greater defended area.  In addition, MEADS significantly reduces operation and support (O&S) costs resulting in a significantly lower bottom line cost to the nations over the life of the program.  Savings result from incorporating lessons learned into the MEADS design as well as key design features that include high reliability, automated fault detection, prognostics, two-level maintenance, and a reduction in the number of system elements.

IDGA:  What is the current status of the program? 

GK:  2010 and 2011 have been watershed years for the program.  In August of 2010, the program successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) in which the nations approved and validated the system design after reviewing more than 1,000 design evaluation criteria in a rigorous series of incremental reviews. The program then began final build, integration and test activities leading to our recent flight test and future tests involving all system elements.

The MEADS launcher and MEADS battle manager were delivered in December 2010 to begin systems integration. After system integration testing at Pratica di Mare Air Force Base in Italy; Huntsville, AL; Orlando Fla.; and White Sands Missile Range, NM, the end items were ready for the successful November launch.

In April 2011, the National Armaments Directors directed that MEADS demonstrate the capabilities of the system design between now and 2014.  This demonstration of capabilities included the recently completed flight test at White Sands Missile Range in November 2011, as well as ground tests and two intercept missions.

2011 was the beginning of the demonstration of the MEADS capabilities.  We’re seeing what MEADS can really do.  Our test teams are using dedicated targets and performing simulated engagements. Ultimately, we will perform target handovers, simulate interceptor engagements, and demonstrate the plug-and-fight network connectivity of MEADS major end items.  Additionally, teams in Germany and Italy are performing final integration and test of the Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR).  Final rotation tests at both 15 and 30 rpm have been successfully completed.  The MFCR will be used in the next flight test late next year.

A world-class system like MEADS requires world-class test and development facilities. On both sides of the Atlantic our industry team, Lockheed Martin and MBDA, have invested millions of dollars in state-of-the-art System Integration Laboratories and simulation infrastructure to test MEADS elements. The facilities are designed to exercise all functionalities of the MEADS battle manager, missile, launcher, and both radars. New specialized facilities include a Battle Management Test and Integration Facility in Huntsville, Alabama, and Near-Field Test Facility in Syracuse, New York.

The MEADS program is nearing completion of a $3.4B Design and Development contract to co-develop an advanced ground-mobile air and missile defense system.  

Our MEADS partners, both Government and Industrial teams, remain committed to the program.  In budget-constrained times, nations need a capability that is modern, operationally more effective and capable than existing systems, with lower operational costs.  MEADS offers all three nations the capability to leverage the most advanced terminal-phase air and missile defense technology at a lower cost than existing systems, now and well into the future.

Gregory L. Kee, General Manager, NATO MEADS Management Agency, will be speaking at IDGA’s Integrated Missile Defense System Summit, to be held from Jan. 17-18, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Kee was appointed as the General Manager for the NATO Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) Management Agency on 1 November 2008. MEADS is a $4 billion tri-national NATO program to replace the Patriot, Hawk, and Nike Hercules for the United States Army, German Air Force and Italian Air Force based out of Huntsville, Alabama. The MEADS program is being developed at six (6) locations across the United States, Germany and Italy with a workforce of over 1900 contractor and Government personnel.

Contributor:   Christopher Dauer

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