MEADS tracks, destroys target

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The MEADS anti-missile system being developed to replace the Patriot has completed its first intercept flight test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

The consortium developing the system, MEADS International, said the Medium Extended Air Defense System detected, tracked, intercepted and destroyed an air-breathing target last Thursday.

"Today's successful flight test further demonstrates MEADS' ability to identify, track, engage and defeat targets attacking from any direction using a single mobile launcher," said NATO MEADS Management Agency General Manager Gregory Kee. "MEADS is proving its capability to defend our warfighters and key assets against a growing 21st-century threat."

MEADS is a next-generation, mobile ground-air defense system. It features 360-degree radars, netted and distributed battle management, transportable launchers and the hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement Missiles.

A networked MEADS battle manager, lightweight launcher and a Multifunction Fire Control Radar was used to track and destroy an MQM-107 target in the test.

"MEADS provides advanced capabilities that detect, track and intercept evolving threats from farther away and without blind spots," said MEADS International President Dave Berganini. "Today's successful intercept proves MEADS' advertised capabilities are real.

'Its digital designs and modern hardware and software ensure high reliability rates and dramatically reduced operational and support costs."

MEADS International, headquartered in Florida, is the prime contractor for the MEADS system. Subcontractors and partners include MBDA in Italy and Germany and Lockheed Martin in the United States.