Final MEADS test successful

The final, and most realistic test of the Medium-Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) was a success. The system fired two missiles at a Lance ballistic missile, and a third at a low flying QF-4 target. All three missiles were fired "over the shoulder". The second missile fired at the Lance self destructed after the first hit.

The system is designed to have 360 degree coverage, allowing missiles to be fired at all angles without having to move the launcher. It fires PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors at incoming targets.

This is the first test to use the full up system, and the final test planned. Initially the US, Germany, and Italy were developing the system together, but the US and Germany pulled out. Representatives from Poland, who are looking to bolster their air defenses were on hand for this test.

The tri-national Medium-Extended Air Defense System (Meads) achieved two successful intercepts in its second and last planned flight test Nov. 6, as prime contractor Lockheed Martin readies itself to proceed with a production program despite a lack of U.S. support going forward.

Meads successfully acquired, tracked and destroyed two targets — one air-breathing and another ballistic missile — fulfilling two of the test objectives, says Marty Coyne, Lockheed Martin’s lead business development official for Meads.

This second flight test for Meads originally was slated to counter only a theater ballistic missile; a Lance surface-to-surface target was used for the test, which took place at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M. But the Italian, German and American development partners agreed to increase the complexity of the trial by adding an air-breathing QF-4, simulating a cruise missile.

MEADS

reply to post by Zaphod58


Any proof or just speculations ??

reply to post by Zaphod58


Was this "What Happened in New Mexico" ?

-Kkrattiger in NM

The next big war air superiority may be very problematic. Even in the 70s when the First Cav went into Laos to clean out the weapon storage bunkers and depots the NVA had...... flying a helicopter was very dangerous due to 23 and 37mm AAA. If I remember correctly there were no more LOH6s left they had all been shot down?

Hunter killer teams went out with a pair of Snakes ( Cobra gun ships) due to better survivability and better armaments. With some of the air defense missiles on the drawing board (or already deployed) we better hope stealth works and there are no breakthroughs in the detection department. No wonder drones and more drones, No?

reply to post by SERGV2012


Any proof of what? That the test happened? I guess anything is just speculation unless you see it happen huh. And yes there is proof.

reply to post by kkrattiger


No, they happened on different dates.

reply to post by 727Sky


That's what the Wild Weasel program developed in Vietnam is for. They don't have the dedicated Weasels anymore, but they still have aircraft that fly the mission. It's ugly and they can lose a lot if they aren't careful, but it works really well.

Zaphod58
reply to post by 727Sky

 

That's what the Wild Weasel program developed in Vietnam is for. They don't have the dedicated Weasels anymore, but they still have aircraft that fly the mission. It's ugly and they can lose a lot if they aren't careful, but it works really well.

Wild Weasel type mission worked when the enemy radar came on line long enough to get a lock on. Most of the stuff knocking out the helicopters were guided by the M-1 eyeball in most cases.

There were 37mm radar guided weapons but they only turned on their radar for accurate target acquisition/striking usually after the M-1 eyeball had acquired the target to begin with. Easy to do with low and slow flying helcopters. IE short engagement then radar back off. The 23 and 37mm were both very well suited weapons against helicopters... Mountainous terrain low level missions with the bad guys able to look down, shoot down anything in a valley.

Wild Weasel missions were used against Sam type emplacements and you are correct, when available they worked well. Most of our airstrikes by the fast movers were called in when arty could not take out the bad guys for whatever reason or napalm was the ordinance of choice. .

reply to post by 727Sky


They were quite successful against guns too, which is how quite a few of them were downed. They put F-100 Fast FACs up against suspected gun sites.

reply to post by 727Sky


We do now have weapons that will seek even if you turn off your radar these days as well. Just turning off your radar dont work anymore. the newest anti radiation missiles we use that replaces the shrike will actually seek the last known coordinates as well as circle around to identify targets and strike the one matching its profile.

reply to post by yuppa


I guess my question is why we pulled out and what do we have that is better. Obviously this is not weapon we want our enemies to get hold of. Is the reason we let these companies develop these weapons is we have the keys so to speak. Seems to me that has to be the only reason we would let them be developed.

The Bot

reply to post by dlbott


That's actually a common misconception.

We pulled out due to budget issues. We would be paying over half the development production costs, while other projects more necessary sat idle due to funding issues.

yuppa
reply to post by 727Sky

 

We do now have weapons that will seek even if you turn off your radar these days as well. Just turning off your radar dont work anymore. the newest anti radiation missiles we use that replaces the shrike will actually seek the last known coordinates as well as circle around to identify targets and strike the one matching its profile.

Radiating was not a necessity to get smoked in the past. Once the Shrike/HARM saw the beam it would stay the course and would pick up on the local oscillator if the final RF was shut down. Unfortunately for the poor souls in the trailer controlling the SAM array, the local oscillator was in the trailer with them so instead just blowing away the dish, it got the trailer. The other thing that they discovered with a blinking jammer was a home on jam mode. Nothing like a single-minded missile that just won't listen to the other radar. Time to una$$ the van and run for it.