MEADS will replace the Patriot and Nike Hercules systems in the US, Italy and Germany.

Lockheed Martin has completed the System Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for its Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) programme.

MEADS is a mobile air and missile defence system set to replace Patriot systems in the US and Italy’s Nike Hercules systems. It will supplement and eventually replace Patriot systems in Germany.

The US company said it will next focus on detailed design work for the system, with the Critical Design Review (CDR) scheduled for 2009, leading to initial MEADS flight tests in 2011.

“System PDR is the most significant milestone to date for the MEADS programme,” said MEADS International President Jim Cravens. “We’ve demonstrated to our customer that the basic design of MEADS is ready to move forward into detailed design.

“Every member of the MEADS team knows how important it is to provide improved air and missile defense protection to our future Warfighters, and how our basic design supports those efforts.”

When completed, MEADS will be the only air and missile defence system able to roll off tactical transports with the troops and begin operations almost immediately.

For more information on Lockheed Martin and the MEADS programme, visit www.lockheedmartin.com

By Natasha Piscitelli