MEADS puts in new bid for Wisla

[Zarvan]

MEADS has re-entered the running for Poland's Wisla programme. Source: Lockheed Martin
Key Points

• Consortium submits new MEADS bid to Poland
• MEADS International is looking to involve Polish industry in about 40% of the workshare for the system

The MEADS International consortium announced on 31 January that it had submitted an updated bid for Poland's Wisla medium-range air-defence system.

A spokesperson for the MEADS programme told Jane's that the company was looking to involve Polish industry in about 40% of the workshare for the system, which includes the development of the P-18PL multi-functional long-range VHF radar system that can be used for airspace monitoring and early warning. The radar system could potentially be added into the MEADS system and could also act as a complementary sensor.

In addition to working on radar systems, MEADS is looking to assist in the design of a new missile system in Poland that will help grow Poland's domestic missile industry.

Poland has been considering the MEADS system for the Wisla programme for some time: representatives from Polish industry and the Ministry of National Defence witnessed the second flight test of the MEADS system at the White Sands Missile Range in the United States in November 2013. During the test the system simultaneously destroyed two targets that were approaching from opposite directions.

Despite this engagement, the system was effectively discounted from the competition in 2014 following a Polish government decision that the system to be selected should already be in operation with an international military. However, in 2015 Germany selected the system for its Taktischen Luftverteidigungssystem, effectively allowing the MEADS system back into the competition.

While Raytheon's Patriot had been selected as the preferred bidder for the programme, in February 2016 MEADS International was asked to re-enter negotiations with the Polish government. As a result, the MEADS team signed a Letter of Intent agreement for ongoing collaboration with Poland's PGZ in September.

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http://www.janes.com/article/67437/meads-puts-in-new-bid-for-wisla

 

[Penguin]

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.

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.

MEADS incorporates the Lockheed Martin hit-to-kill MIM-104F Patriot 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.

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.