Raytheon filed a formal protest on 17 June to overturn its loss of the Medium Extended Air Defence System (MEADS), a joint development being undertaken by the USA, Germany and Italy to field the next-generation, highly mobile, medium-range battlefield air defence weapon.
The NATO MEADS Organisation (NAMEADSMO) on 19 May awarded Lockheed Martin a $300 million contract to begin developing the $12 billion MEADS project. The US team member for the three-year risk reduction effort is allied with Italy's Alenia and Germany's DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa).
Raytheon will not disclose reasons for the protest. NAMEADSMO has until the middle of July to review the bidding and give an opinion. Should the protest be turned down by NAMEADSMO, Raytheon can either drop the matter, seek arbitration by a panel formed by MEADS member nations, or file a formal protest to the US General Accounting Office, which reviews US Defense Department contract awards.
The Lockheed Martin-led team is to demonstrate a prototype system in 2002. The hit-to-kill Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Patriot Advanced Capability air defence missile will be used as part of MEADS.
Source: Flight International