MEADS Multifunction Fire Control Radar Completes Tests

The Italian Air Force has integrated the first Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR) with the MEADS battle manager and launcher. The objectives of the integration test series were to demonstrate that the MEADS TOC could control the MEADS MFCR in coordination with the MEADS Launcher. MEADS International President Dave Berganini said, "The MEADS MFCR combines extraordinary capability and cost effectiveness. It can detect and track advanced threats with 360-degree coverage and no blind spots. Unlike fielded radars, it is highly mobile and C-130 transportable". The MFCR is an X-band, solid-state, phased array radar using element-level transmit/receive modules. It provides precision tracking and wideband discrimination and classification capabilities. For extremely rapid deployments, the MEADS MFCR can provide both surveillance and fire control capabilities until a surveillance radar joins the network. The MFCR uses its main beam for uplink and downlink missile communications. An advanced Mode 5 identify friend-or-foe subsystem supports improved threat identification and typing. Through its plug-and-fight capability, the MFCR simply acts as a node on the MEADS network. The MEADS battle manager lets a commander dynamically add or subtract sensors and shooters as the situation dictates without shutting the system down.