Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON

Delays in finalising the US-Europe technology transfer agreement required for joint development of the Medium Extended Air Defence Systems (MEADS) have resulted in MEADS International receiving a $10 million transition contract to continue preparations for the next phase.

An agreement on the "time-phased" transfer of technology necessary for MEADS development has been approved by the US Government, but was not ready in time for approval by partners Germany and Italy before their parliamentary recesses.

The $10 million contract awarded by the NATO MEADS Management Agency will keep the industry team together until the start of the three-year risk reduction effort (RRE) later this year.

MEADS International - comprising Lockheed Martin, European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) and Alenia Marconi Systems - anticipates signing the "over $200 million" RRE contract in mid-November.

Don Lionetti, vice-president air and missile systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, says the time-phased technology release plan "is acceptable to our European partners, and provides access to all the technologies previously not releaseable that are required for MEADS". These centre on the radar and Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 hit-to-kill missile, which is under development for the Patriot air-defence system.

Lionetti dismisses critics who argue that the PAC-3 missile is too expensive for MEADS. He argues that development of an all-new missile would require "an enormous investment" and says PAC-3's cost should be below $2 million a copy by the time MEADS is fielded in 2009-10.

Raytheon has received a $1.4 billion contract from Lockheed to produce three X-band phased-array radars for the USArmy's Theatre High Altitude Area Defence system. Lockheed, as prime contractor for the $4 billion THAAD engineering and manufacturing development phase, is supplying six command and control centres, seven launchers and 30 missiles, Raytheon's three radars and six battle management tactical shelter groups.

Source: Flight International