The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)
is a joint missile defense project of the United States, Germany and Italy
originally designed to replace the Patriot system
The program was tasked to bridge the gap between
smaller surface-to-air systems like the Stinger missile
and higher levels of the missile defense
such as the Terminal High Altitude Defense System (THAAD)
It is designed to intercept short-ranged ballistic missiles
cruise missiles, and other atmospheric threats
The system’s six major equipment items are Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MCFR)
UHF Surveillance Radar; Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications
Computers, and Intelligence (BMC4I) Tactical Operations Center
Certified Missile Round (PAC-3 MSE and canister), Launcher, and Reloader
MEADS uses the new Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) MSE, Missile Segment Enhancement
to target tactical ballistic missiles, low and high altitude cruise missiles
aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles
The German deployment of the system will also include
IRIS-T short-range missiles to engage air-breathing threats
Additionally, the radars provide 360-degree coverage
and can roll off transport vehicles ready for combat
Each launcher is capable of holding multiple PAC-3 MSE
with each fire unit carrying 48 ready MSE interceptors mounted on a wheeled vehicle
In a combat zone, the mobile radars and launchers are intended to be able
to keep pace with fast moving ground forces
In November 2012 at White Sands Missile Range, MEADS detected
tracked, intercepted and destroyed an air-breathing target in an intercept flight test
In November 2013, MEADS intercepted and destroyed
two simultaneous targets attacking from opposite directions
during a stressing demonstration of its 360-degree AMD capabilities
at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico
In September 2014, MEADS MFCRs Multifunction Fire Control Radar
completed a six-week performance test at Pratica di Mare Air Base, Italy
and MBDA Deutschland's air defense center in Freinhausen
During the tests, the MEADS MFCR successfully demonstrated several advanced capabilities
many of which are critical for ground-mobile radar systems
Capabilities tested include tracking and canceling of jamming signals
searching, cueing and tracking in ground clutter
and successfully classifying target data using kinematic information