• Forum
• SITREP
• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security

• Space

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Public Eye

MEADS INTERNATIONAL SIGNS $10 MILLION TRANSITION EFFORT EXTENSION CONTRACT

ORLANDO, FL, August 15th, 2000 -- The team of MEADS International signed a $10 million contract August 14 at the NATO MEADS Management Agency (NAMEADSMA) in Huntsville, Ala., to continue work on the Medium Extended Air Defense System--the next generation air and missile defense system for the U.S., Germany and Italy. The contract is an extension of the Transition Effort (TE) contract signed November 15, 1999, and enables the team to focus on time critical activities in preparation for the 3-year Risk Reduction Effort (RRE) contract slated to begin later this year.

In May 1999, NAMEADSMA announced its selection of the MEADS International team - comprising Alenia Marconi Systems from Italy, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS - formerly DaimlerChrysler Aerospace GmbH) from Germany, and Lockheed Martin from the U.S. - to manage the 3-year Risk Reduction Effort under a contract valued at over $200 million.

On hand for yesterday's signing ceremony were Chester Domaracki of NAMEADSMA and MEADS International executive vice president Joel Strickland.

"The three-country MEADS International, Inc. team will develop a strategically transportable and tactically mobile system that will eventually replace both Patriot and Hawk," according to Joel Strickland. "MEADS will include a lightweight launcher; a 360-degree fire control radar; and battle management, command, control and communications." According to Strickland, the company will now move forward, capitalizing on the significant progress already achieved by this talented team during the Transition Effort phase.

Managed from its headquarters in Orlando, Florida, MEADS International combines the talents of several Lockheed Martin companies led by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando and Dallas, Tx., Alenia Marconi Systems of Rome, Italy, and EADS in Munich, Germany.

W.C. Wiese, 407-356-4792
e-mail: william.c.wiese@lmco.com