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The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) is a ground-mobile air and missile defense system intended to replace the Patriot missile system through a NATO-managed development.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=GlobalSecurity.org )〕 The program is a tri-national development of the USA, Germany, and Italy. ==Description== Developed by Germany, Italy, and the United States, MEADS is a ground-mobile air and missile defense (AMD) system intended to replace German and United States Patriot systems and Italian Nike Hercules systems. Germany chose MEADS to replace their MIM-104 Patriot systems in June 2015. MEADS is designed to address the shortcomings of fielded systems and to permit full interoperability between U.S. and allied forces. It is the only medium-range AMD system to provide full 360-degree coverage against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, aircraft, and large-caliber rockets. MEADS provides ground-mobile air and missile defense with expanded coverage. The system provides enhanced force protection against a broad array of third-dimension threats. Improved interoperability, mobility, and full 360-degree defense capability against the evolving threat represent are key aspects. MEADS is the first air and missile defense (AMD) system that provides continuous on-the-move protection for maneuver forces. MEADS also provides area defense, homeland defense, and weighted asset protection.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Fact Sheets )〕 MEADS incorporates the Lockheed Martin hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missile in a system including 360-degree surveillance and fire control sensors, netted-distributed tactical operations centers, and lightweight launchers.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=About MEADS )〕 A single MEADS battery is able to defend up to 8 times the area of a Patriot battery through use of advanced 360-degree sensors, near-vertical launch capability, and the longer-range PAC-3 MSE missile. The MEADS radars – using active phased arrays and digital beam forming – enable full use of the PAC-3 MSE missile’s extended range. Truck-mounted MEADS elements drive or roll on and off C-130 and A400M transport aircraft so they can quickly deploy to a theater of operations. Because MEADS uses fewer system assets, it permits a substantial reduction in deployed personnel and equipment. MEADS reduces demand for airlift, so it can deploy to theater faster. The minimum MEADS engagement capability requires only one launcher, one battle manager, and one fire control radar to provide 360-degree defense of troops or critical assets. As more system elements arrive, they automatically and seamlessly join the MEADS network and build out capability. The prime contractor, MEADS International, is a multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Its participating companies are MBDA Italia, MBDA Deutschland GmbH, and Lockheed Martin. The company initially won a competitive downselect to develop the MEADS system in 1999,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=NATO agency turns down MEADS protest )〕 but the program could not be started because the losing competitor filed two successive suits. In 2001, a $216 million Risk Reduction Effort contract was awarded to incorporate a new interceptor approach. In May 2005, MEADS International signed a definitized contract valued at $2 billion plus €1.4 billion for MEADS design and development. This contract was completed in 2014.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=National Armaments Directors Approve MEADS Program Continuation Plan )〕 The United States funded 58 percent of the MEADS Design and Development program, with European partners Germany and Italy providing 25 percent and 17 percent respectively. The German ''Bundeswehr'' completed an analysis of air defense alternatives in 2010 and strongly recommended MEADS as the basis for improving Germany’s missile defense shield and as Germany’s contribution to the European Phased Adaptive Approach. In February 2011, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that it intended to fulfill its commitment to complete the design and development effort, but that it would not procure the MEADS system for budgetary reasons.〔()〕 In October 2011, the National Armaments Directors of Germany, Italy, and the United States approved a contract amendment to fund two flight intercept tests, a launcher/missile characterization test, and a sensor characterization test conducted to complete the planned development scope..〔 In September 2013, MEADS received operating certification for its Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system. Mode 5 is more secure and provides positive line-of-sight identification of friendly platforms equipped with an IFF transponder to better protect allied forces.〔(MEADS air defense system IFF Identification Friend or Foe system has been certified for operation ) - Armyrecognition.com, 4 September 2013〕 In June 2015, MEADS was selected as the basis for the German ''Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem'' (TLVS), a new generation of air and missile defense that requires flexible architecture based on strong networking capabilities. 〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Germany Announces MEADS Selection for Future Air and Missile Defense System )〕 MEADS was a candidate for Poland’s ''Wisła'' medium range air defense system procurement, but was eliminated in June 2014 when competition was downselected to the US Patriot system and the French/Italian SAMP/T system. MEADS remains a candidate for Poland’s Narew short range air defense system procurement. 〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=MEADS Ready For Transition to European Follow-On Programs )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Medium Extended Air Defense System」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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