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Difesa antimissile: accordi

Per chi voglia saperne di più. Sono sottolineati e vanno indietro sino al 2003. 
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Italy, U.S. Expected to Sign Missile Defense Deal_
The United States and Italy are expected to sign a general missile defense cooperation agreement by early fall, Inside Missile Defense reported yesterday (see GSN, June 2, 2005). The agreement would be “similar to framework [missile defense] agreements with other partners,” including the United Kingdom, a U.S. Defense Department official said. The 2003 U.S.-British “Framework Memorandum of Understanding” on missile defense “facilitates bilateral information exchanges on missile defense matters, establishes a top-level management structure to oversee cooperative work, and prepares the way for fair opportunities to be given to U.K. industry to participate in the U.S. program,” British Defense Minister Geoff Hoon said shortly after he and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld signed the pact. U.S. Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Trey Obering said in March that the signing of a similar U.S.-Italy agreement was “imminent.” However, turnover of personnel within Italy’s Defense Ministry caused a delay, the U.S. defense official said this week. The deal could be signed by early fall, the official said. Washington has similar agreements with Australia, Denmark and Japan, according to Inside Missile Defense (John Liang, Inside Missile Defense, July 19). 
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MEADS INTERNATIONAL SIGNS $3.4 BILLIONDESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT_
ORLANDO, FL, USA, June 1, 2005 – MEADS International (MI) formally signed a definitized contract to design and develop the tri-national Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). The contract value is approximately $2 billion plus €1.4 billion for the program's design and development (D&D) phase. The D&D contract extends the period of performance of a previous letter contract that was awarded to MI by the NATO MEADS Management Agency (NAMEADSMA) in September 2004. Award of the contract follows the German government's approval on April 20 of entry into the MEADS D&D phase, a step taken earlier by the governments of Italy and the United States. MEADS International is a joint venture of MBDA Italia, EADS/LFK in Germany and Lockheed Martin in the United States. "The MEADS program and its promise of unprecedented capability for the warfighter are moving forward," said Jim Berry, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We will now complete development of the system and prepare it for production. That's important for our tri-national forces who have asked for greater mobility, interoperability and lethality. MEADS is a 21 st Century air and missile defense system solution and another essential system to protect the lives of our soldiers and air crews." Werner Kaltenegger, CEO of EADS/LFK added: "MEADS strengthens our long-standing experience in transatlantic co-operation as well as our capabilities in the field of air and missile defence. The MEADS development programme will secure hundreds of high-tech jobs in Germany – and thus important national core competences mainly in the areas of system integration, radar technology and combat management software." Marwan Lahoud, MBDA Chief Executive Officer, said "The design and development contract recognizes that MEADS is the model for successful transatlantic development of advanced weapon systems. It is also a critical milestone for MBDA which, through its Italian operations and with EADS/LFK of Germany, will realize the maximum European benefit from this strategically important program." Fabrizio Giulianini, MBDA Italia Managing Director and Multinational surface to air program Director, said: "The realization of this program confirms MBDA as the partner of choice for complex multinational development programs." MEADS, under development by Germany, Italy and the United States, includes a lightweight launcher, 360-degree fire control and surveillance radars and plug-and-fight battle management command and control capabilities not found in current systems. With its enhanced mobility and advanced technologies, MEADS will offer Armed Forces significant improvements over existing systems. MEADS is a mobile air and missile defense system designed to replace Patriot systems in the United States and Germany, and Nike Hercules systems in Italy. It also meets the requirements of Germany's "capabilities oriented" air and missile defense concept. MEADS incorporates the battle-proven hit-to-kill PAC-3 missile in a system that includes 360-degree surveillance and fire control sensors, netted-distributed battle management/communication centers and high-firepower launchers. The system combines superior battlefield protection with unprecedented flexibility, allowing it to protect maneuver forces and to provide homeland defense against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft. During the MEADS design and development phase, MI will finalize designs for equipment and complete their integration into the 21 st century air and missile defense system. The system's six major equipment items are: Multifunction Fire Control Radar; Surveillance Radar (MFCR); Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (BMC41); Certified Missile Round (PAC-3 missile and canister); Launcher; and Reloader. In Orlando, the MEADS program will significantly expand its technical employment as a result of the contract. The MEADS program will expand at EADS/LFK, Lockheed Martin, MBDA and MI locations that currently participate in development of the advanced air and missile defense system. Lockheed Martin will perform contract work at its locations in Orlando, FL; Dallas, TX; Huntsville, AL; and Syracuse, NY. EADS/LFK will perform work on the BMC4I, launcher, Surveillance Radar and MFCR elements at plants around Munich, Germany. MBDA's Italian operating company, MBDA Italia, will perform work on the BMC4I, MFCR and launcher/reloader elements in Rome, Italy. The development work will be allocated in accordance with national funding. The United States funds approximately 58 percent of the MEADS program, and European partners Germany and Italy provide approximately 25 percent and 17 percent, respectively. 
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Poll: 71% of Europeans Support Missile Defense_

September 7, 2005 :: MDAA :: News
The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance and the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies have conducted another missile defense poll, this time of Europeans in the countries of France, Germany, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Overall, 71% of those surveyed were in favor of the deployment of missile defenses by NATO, and only 16% opposed NATO having such capability.
26% rated the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as the most significant threat facing Europe compared to 52% who said violent acts by terrorists groups pose the greatest threat. 75% said ballistic missiles with nuclear, chemical or biological weapons could be used as instruments of blackmail or coercion against NATO or NATO countries. Asked whether they think their own country should have a missile defense system, the following percentages answered affirmatively: France (69%), Germany (68%), the U.K. (72%), Spain (54%), Italy (60%), Poland (84%), the Czech Republic (62%), the Netherlands (63%) and Denmark (44%). In the aggregate, 56% of the adults surveyed would support a deployment of such a defensive system in their own country. 73% suggested it is a good idea for NATO to expand such a defensive system to protect troops in the field as well as citizens at home. 
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SAIC-led Consortium Wins $95 Million NATO Missile Defense Contract_

September 18, 2006 :: Reuters :: News
NATO has awarded a $95 million contract to an international consortium led by U.S.-based Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to integrate the Active Layered Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD) currently being developed in Europe. The project will network existing and future national missile defense systems, sensors, battle management and command, control, and communications systems. The total cost for NATO is expected to be $823 million, while the cost of individual weapons systems to be bought separately by national governments is expected to be much higher. The SAIC-led consortium also includes Raytheon from the U.S., Thales of France, IABG and Diehl from Germany, Britain’s Qinetiq, the Dutch company TNO, DATAMAT from Italy, and the European satellite giant EADS Asterism. 
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Hackett on NATO Plans_

May 22, 2006 :: Washington Times :: News
NATO plans to study ways to integrate existing European theater missile defense systems, writes James T. Hackett in The Washington Times. The goal will be to create an “alliance shield” that will allow data from land-, sea- and space-based sensors to be consolidated through a unified command system and provided to available interceptors. The integration is planned to start this year. At present, several European countries possess limited theater missile defenses. Germany, the Netherlands, and Greece have Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) interceptors. Spain plans to get the PAC-2 soon, and the Dutch are upgrading to the PAC-3. Germany, Italy, and the U.S. are jointly developing the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), which will use an enhanced PAC-3 interceptor. U.S. Aegis-equipped warships in the seas around Europe are equipped with SPY-1 early-warning radars, and some will soon carry SM-3 interceptors. Spain and Norway will soon own Aegis-equipped frigates as well, and Germany plans to develop a sea-based BMD for some of its own frigates. Great Britain, Italy, and France are developing the Aster-30, a sea-based air defense system that is being upgraded to a BMD capability. Turkey has just allocated $1 billion to purchase a missile defense system. 

_U.S. and Italy to Sign Missile Defense Agreement_

July 20, 2006 :: Inside Defense :: News
The U.S. and Italy are expected to sign a missile defense cooperation agreement by early fall, reports Inside Missile Defense. According to a Pentagon official, the agreement would be “similar to [missile defense] framework agreements with other partners.” For instance, the U.S.-British “Framework Memorandum of Understanding” on missile defense, signed in 2003, facilitates bilateral information exchanges on missile defense matters, establishes a management structure to oversee cooperative work, and prepares the way for opportunities for British companies to participate in the program. The U.S. has similar agreements with Japan, Australia, and Denmark. 
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Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)_
Country: USA
Basing: Land
In Service: Exp. 2014
Associated Country: Germany, Italy
Details
The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) is a tri-national project of the United States, Germany, and Italy. Once operational, it will use the new Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles to protect ground forces and fixed military positions against attack from tactical ballistic missiles, low and high altitude cruise missiles, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles. As a mobile land-based surface-to-air missile system, MEADS will bridge the gap between smaller portable surface-to-air systems like the Stinger missile and the higher levels of the Missile Defense Agency's Ballistic Missile Defense System, such as the Terminal High Altitude Defense System (THAAD). Unlike the old Patriot system, MEADS will provide 360-degree coverage and will roll directly off transport vehicles into combat situations. The project began in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the U.S. Army and Marine Corps created the Corps SAM program to replace the Hawk Air Defense System that had been in service since the 1960s. In 1995, Corps SAM was renamed MEADS and became a multinational partnership. Participating companies currently include Lockheed Martin (U.S.), European Aeronautic Defence and Space (Germany), and MBDA (Italy). Funding is also collaborative: the U.S. pays 58 percent, Germany pays 25 percent, and Italy pays 17 percent. In late 2003, the U.S. decided to merge MEADS with the PAC-3 program, thus combining the management, development, and fielding components of the two systems under the auspices of the Army. The system's six major equipment items are: Multifunction Fire Control Radar; Surveillance Radar; Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (BMC4I); Certified Missile Round (PAC-3 Missile and canister); Launcher; and Reloader. In a typical battle scenario, the truck-mounted surveillance radar will scan the horizon for threats. It will provide 360-degree coverage and will be nearly impossible to jam. The BMC4I system will link all components and provide access to other radars and satellites, thus integrating MEADS into MDA's broader missile defense architecture. Once an incoming missile has been detected, the radar will produce detailed tracking reports, and the BMC4I will send its launch commands to the multi-canister mobile launchers. Each launcher will be capable of holding multiple PAC-3 interceptors, and will be mounted on a wheeled vehicle. The Army will be able to roll the mobile launchers on and off C-130 and A400M transport aircraft for rapid deployment. In the combat zone, the mobile launchers will keep pace with fast moving ground forces. To reduce the risk of detection, the Army will be able to place these launchers far away from radar and BMC4I units. The PAC-3 interceptor itself, 17.1 feet long and 10 inches in diameter, is an upgraded version of the PAC-2. The main difference lies in the kill mechanism: while the PAC-2 uses an exploding warhead to eliminate its targets, the PAC-3 is a hit-to-kill system and destroys its targets by the kinetic energy released in a head-on collision. Once launched, the PAC-3 will streak toward its target, receiving initial guidance from the X-band multi-function fire control radar. As the interceptor closes in on the target, PAC-3's active seeker recalculates the trajectory and makes adjustments to the interceptor's speed and direction. The PAC-3 will collide with the incoming missile (like a bullet hitting a bullet), causing complete destruction of the warhead, including any nuclear, chemical, or biological agents. In late 2003, MEADS successfully demonstrated its ability to detect, track, and destroy simulated aircraft and missile targets in a test at Lockheed Martin's facilities in Syracuse, New York. In March 2004, two PAC-3 missiles destroyed a large target missile at the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The target missile had been modified to represent a short-range tactical ballistic missile and programmed to simulate the flight patterns of a Scud missile. In September 2004, MEADS International (MI) received a 9-year $3.4 billion Design and Development letter contract to design and develop MEADS. The contract award followed a series of successful system demonstrations and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Italy. Germany signed the agreement following parliamentary action in April 2005. Germany and Italy have expressed concern about proposed cuts to their work share, limitations to their role in testing, and restrictions on technology sharing. The U.S., however, maintains that MEADS is an essential part of its missile defense architecture. In a March 2004 letter, the Pentagon stressed the importance of a "fair and balanced" missile defense program between the three allies. MEADS remains on schedule for initial deployment in 2014.
Sources Army Technology. Federation of American Scientists. GlobalSecurity.org. Hsu, Emily. "Army To Expand MEADS Risk Reduction Effort To 'Bridge' SDD Delay." Inside the Army, 9 February 2004. Hsu, Emily. "OSD Tries To Reassure Allies On MEADS Tech Transfer, Workshare." Inside Missile Defense, 31 March 2004. Hsu, Emily. "Pentagon Tries To Quell European Partners' MEADS Concerns." Inside Missile Defense, 14 April 2004. Lockheed Martin Corporation. "MEADS Demonstrates Track and Destroy Capabilities In Simulation Test." Defense Daily International, 15 August 2003. Missile Defense Agency. 
"Pentagon Gives Nod To MEADS Missile System." Reuters News, 2 February 2004.
Roosevelt, Ann. "MEADS Demonstration This Month In Italy." Defense Daily, 9 March 2004. Roosevelt, Ann. "MEADS System Demonstration Postponed." Defense Daily, 25 March 2004. Sherman, Jason, and Gopal Ratnam. "Globalizing Missile Defense; Is the U.S. Finally Serious About Hiring Foreign Firms?" Defense News, 22 March 2004. 
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Germany to Devote 1.25 Billion for MEADS_
October 21, 2004 :: AFP :: News
Germany will spend some 1.25 billion dollars on ballistic missile defense over the next eight years, reports the Agence France-Presse, primarily on the cooperative U.S.-Germany-Italy program, the Medium Extended Air Defense System, or MEADS, designed to succeed, and eventually replace the current Patriot interceptors based in Germany and elsewhere. MEADS is similar to Patriot in that both intercept missiles in their terminal, or descent phase. MEADS will be a successor, and have a longer range, as much as 1,000km. Part of Germany’s funds will go to the order of between 12 and 24 of the MEADS units, according to German lawmaker Hans-Peter Bartels of the governing Social Democrats. The existing Patriot interceptors in Germany would be gradually replaced. German and Italian interest in the system reflects a growing shift in opinion, worldwide, that deterrence may fail, and that systems need to be in place for if and when that day comes. 
EADS, Lockheed to cooperate
More stories on: Allies
Missile system details for: Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)
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MEADS Development to Begin_

July 16, 2004 :: NTI :: News
The United States, Germany, and Italy will soon begin full development of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) system, the successor to the Patriot program, according to the July 15 edition of Defense Today. Negotiations to produce a memorandum of understanding are expected to be completed this week, with contracts to produce the missile defense system by the end of the year. 
Missile system details for: Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)

_Adelman on MEADS_

July 9, 2003 :: Tech Central Station :: Analysis
Ken Adelman, assistant to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from 1975 to 1977 and U.N. ambassador and arms-control director under President Ronald Reagan, discusses the “next generation” of SDI, and the capabilities of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). 
More stories on: Analysis, Land-Based Systems, Technology
Missile system details for: Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)


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http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2006_7_20.html#08914BC7