EADS Welcomes German Decision to Participate in MEADS
(Source: EADS; issued April 21, 2005)
MUNICH, Germany --- The EADS CEOs, Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, welcomed the German parliament’s go ahead for the country’s participation in the transatlantic MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System) programme as an important base for the future development of Germany's and Europe's missile industry. "MEADS is an important part of NATO's future security architecture. In addition to that, MEADS is a key project for further technological and economic development of Europe's missile industry and the transatlantic cooperation in defence."
After today’s parliamentary decision, Germany, in collaboration with the USA and Italy, will participate in the development of the ground-based tactical air defence system MEADS. The development contract’s total volume amounts to US$ 3.4 billion and can now be awarded. The German share is 25 percent.
Tom Enders, member of the EADS Executive Committee and CEO of the Defence and Security Systems Division (DS) added: “MEADS strengthens EADS' defence business. MEADS strengthens our capabilities in the field of air and missile defence and therewith our soldiers' security in their future missions. And MEADS will secure hundreds of high-tech jobs in Germany – and thus important national core competences mainly in the areas of system integration, radar technology, and combat management software.”
Already in September 2004, Germany’s partners in the MEADS programme, the USA and Italy, signed the trilateral design and development Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Consequently, on 28 September 2004, the NATO agency NAMEADSMA provided the industrial consortium MEADS International with a letter contract for the launch of design and development.
Werner Kaltenegger, CEO of EADS/LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH, said: „This positive decision is of enormous importance for EADS/LFK both concerning technology and business. Moreover, it sets the foundation to continue and extend our successful cooperation with Lockheed Martin and MBDA."
MEADS protects own and allied forces in out-of-area operations, the civilian population in crisis regions and important sites in the context of homeland and NATO territory defence. The highly efficient, air-transportable MEADS ground-based air defence system covers all threat scenarios originating from the air, including tactical ballistic missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometres. Above all, MEADS protects against missiles carrying biological and chemical warheads for which "hit-to-kill" technology is necessarily required.
Only MEADS meets the specifications of the "International Common Operational Requirements" (ICOR) and the associated specifications of the "International Technical Requirements Document" (ITRD), which Germany has agreed upon together with Italy and the USA and to which these countries have trilaterally committed. Moreover, only MEADS meets the requirements of the German Luftwaffe for a new generation air defence system.
Equipped with a 360 degree surveillance radar, a fire control radar, a state-of-the-art tactical operations centre, "hit-to-kill" missiles (PAC 3) and its network centric hardware and software structure, the system configuration can be adopted to any specific threat (flexibility/modularity). The system is cost-effective, is designed to roll-on/roll-off C130 and A400M transport aircraft (a quantum leap in terms of mobility over systems such as Patriot) and can also integrate other sensors and effectors due to its "plug-and-fight" capability (open, networked system architecture). The trilateral approach ensures interoperability in international alliances. The sensors can detect low flying targets and TBMs and offer 360 degree coverage.
The MEADS tasks are performed on the basis of an equal partnership structure. The financial share of the programme is USA 58%, Germany 25%, and Italy 17%. The technical work share of the companies involved – EADS/LFK (Germany), MBDA-IT (Italy) and Lockheed Martin (USA) – is in line with the percentages of the respective cost contributions. The European companies control their activities through the joint venture company euroMeads GmbH which, like Lockheed Martin, has a 50% share in MEADS International Inc.
EADS Defence and Security Systems, with revenues of about EUR 5.4 billion in 2004 and roughly 24,000 employees across ten nations, forms the defence pole within EADS. It offers integrated systems solutions to the new challenges confronting armed forces and homeland security units. It is active in the areas of military aircraft, missile systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems with manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), battlefield management systems, defence electronics, sensors and avionics, and related services.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004, the Group generated revenues of EUR 31.8 billion and employed a workforce of about 110,000.
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