Germany and the USA have resolved a dispute over the sale of Lockheed Martin Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles to Berlin, a political spat that threatened to delay the tri-national Medium Extended Air Defence System (MEADS).
The controversy, which surfaced late last year, involved US Army demands for security safeguards of the hit-to-kill anti-tactical ballistic missile. Germany found this unacceptable and negotiations reached an impasse.
Recent meetings between senior US and German defence officials produced a compromise, but it is unclear what was conceded during the negotiations. The German embassy in Washington says "an agreement was reached regarding a PAC-3 solution that is satisfactory. [The deal] is a pre-condition for talks regarding other [air defence] systems." The US Defense Department confirms the agreement.
The PAC-3 will be the interceptor for the MEADS programme which involves Alenia Marconi Systems, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace and Lockheed Martin.
Source: Flight International
