After the welcome speech by the Air Division General Fabio Molteni, commander of the Experimental Flight Center, the "System Demonstration" began and allowed to verify with some success some of the peculiar capabilities BMC4I (Battle Management Command Control Communication Computer and Intelligence ) of the MEADS System.
The activity, carried out under the direct responsibility of the NATO agency NAMEADSMA, was carried out with the technical coordination of the Italian assets by the Air Force General Staff, 3 ° and 4 ° department. The same took place, thanks to the integration of real and simulated structures interconnected via Link-16, recreating a complex scenario for which various assets of the national and German armed forces and some industrial sites were involved. In particular, they have actively contributed to the success of the demonstration: the Air Force (Air Squad Command of Rome, 2 ° Wing of Rivolto, Experimental Flight and ReGISCC of Pratica di Mare), the army (COMACA - Sabaudia), the navy military (MARICENPROG - Taranto), the luftwaffe (GAFADC - El Paso - Texas), as well as the industrial sites of MBDA Italia and SELEX ES (Pratica di Mare).
The tests, carried out by mixed Italian-German operational teams, have highlighted some functions of excellence of the MEADS, such as target engagement through traces acquired from remote sensors (Engagement on Remote), the flexibility in the use of its components system (Netted Distributed), the integration of external non-MEADS assets (Plug & Fight) and the ability to interoperate with other defensive systems (Interoperability). Taken together, these capabilities have emphasized the peculiarities of the MEADS open architecture, as a suitable system to be reconfigured and dynamically adapted to the changing operational needs of the various usage scenarios.
The MEADS anti-missile air defense system was developed through a tri-national collaboration (USA, Germany and Italy) and is suitable to protect urban areas, sensitive military targets and troops on the move from the most recent and advanced air threats (Tactical Ballistic Missile, Cruise Missile, Remotely Piloted Vehicles and aircraft). The MEADS uses the most advanced technologies available today in the missile defense sector, applied in the production of AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radars with the latest generation active modules, supplemented by IFF identification systems updated to the 5 Mode and interceptor missiles capable of neutralize by direct impact "Hit to Kill", the hostile targets also of the unconventional type. The MEADS system, highly mobile and entirely transportable even with C130 aircraft, also makes use of modern and innovative logistic and automation technologies that require, for the employment and maintenance, an extremely small number of personnel.
The MEADS, so far, has successfully completed two real Firing Tests at the US "White Sands Missile Range" in New Mexico (USA). In particular, the last flight test, carried out on the 6 Novembre 2013, involved the simultaneous destruction of a ballistic missile (Lance) and a guided aircraft (Phantom F4), with over-the-shoulder maneuvers and engagements (interception in direction opposite to the launch) that have no precedent on other similar missile systems.
Source: CSV - 1st Comlog Division - 1st m.llo Gaetano Citarella
