EADS Defence & Security Delivers 5,000 T/R Modules For MEADS Radar

EADS Defence & Security Delivers 5,000 T/R Modules For MEADS Radar

(NSI News Source Info) January 29, 2009: The joint US-Italian-German MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System) air defence programme gains momentum. As reported by EADS Defence & Security (DS) on Monday, its Defence Electronics business unit has delivered a first batch of 5,000 transmit / receive (T/R) modules and related electronics for the MEADS Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR). EADS DS is thus the first European company to mass produce the core components for the new AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar technology on an industrial scale. The MEADS programme thereby obtains a global strategic lead in the deployment of AESA technology.

Within the framework of the MEADS design and development programme, Defence Electronics had been 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. AESA radar systems use electronic beam scanning, which is made possible by thousands of T/R modules. This concept offers completely new possibilities for deployment and will therefore be used for most of the future military radars in the world. EADS DS staff from Defence Electronics, Defence and Communications Systems and LFK are cooperating closely on this to ensure the success of the MEADS programme. LFK GmbH / MBDA Germany are responsible for the complete radar antenna.

“The high demands placed on the capabilities of the MEADS radar cannot be met without AESA technology,” declares Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Defence Electronics. “The joint efforts of the various EADS Defence & Security partners have advanced this development to a point where we can supply the participating countries with tens of thousands of deployable modules within a relatively short period.”

MEADS is a mobile air and missile defence system that will incorporate 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 centres and high-firepower launchers. The system will combine extensive flexibility with superior protection for forces deployed and critical infrastructures against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft.

MEADS’ open architecture will provide for 21st century air and missile defence system-of-system integration capabilities that allow operational mission-tailoring for homeland defence or defence of manoeuvre forces in various theatres countering air-breathing and tactical missile threats. MEADS is intended to provide significant operation and support cost savings.

In May 2005, MEADS International signed a definitized contract valued at $2 billion plus €1.4 billion for MEADS design and development. A multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, Florida, MEADS International’s participating companies are MBDA in Italy, LFK in Germany and Lockheed Martin in the United States. Together, these companies have focused an international engineering team in Orlando to develop systems and technologies for the MEADS programme, which is closely watched as a model for collaborative transatlantic development.

The MEADS programme is financed by the three partners in the NATO Medium Extended Air Defense System Management Organization (NAMEADSMO), which are the United States (58 percent), Germany (25 percent) and Italy (17 percent). The programme’s management agency NAMEADSMA is located in Huntsville, Alabama.

Defence Electronics is an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security (DS). DS is a systems solutions provider for armed forces and civil security worldwide. Its portfolio ranges from sensors and secure networks through missiles to aircraft and UAVs as well as global security, service and support solutions. In 2007, DS – with around 22,000 employees – achieved revenues of € 5.5 billion. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of € 39.1 billion and employs a workforce of about 116,000.