Germany selects MEADS for new air defense system

ORLANDO, Fla., June 10 (UPI) -- Germany has chosen the Medium Extended Air Defense System as the basis for its next-generation TLVS tactical air and missile defense system.

The selection of MEADS by the Ministry of Defense was announced by Lockheed Martin, which is helping develop the Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem, or TLVS, with MEADS International partner MBDA Deutschland.

TLVS is a next-generation network-based system that is to replace Germany's Patriot air defense system.

"Lockheed Martin is fully committed to the success of TLVS," said Rick Edwards, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "It reflects our continuing commitment to international partnerships and ongoing support for the German government's leadership role in European missile defense."

MEADS in 2013 became the first air and missile defense system to demonstrate a dual intercept of targets attacking simultaneously from opposite directions. It is designed to significantly reduce operation and support costs by covering a larger area with less manpower and equipment, and less demand on airlift.

"With this decision in favor of MEADS, Germany has opted for a powerful, state-of-the-art, long-term ground-based air and missile defense system sufficient to meet the threats both of today and of the future," said Thomas Homberg, managing director of MBDA Deutschland. "It is now our shared responsibility, together with the armed forces, to provide a solid basis for the introduction of the system."