Lockheed Martin announced a new joint venture to pursue the next generation Integrated Air and Missile Defense System, “TLVS,” for the German Bundeswehr. The joint venture is expected to become the prime contractor for the new system that will transform Germany’s defense capabilities. (PRNewsfoto/Lockheed Martin)
By Matthew Beinart |
@mbeinart22
6 years ago |
08/16/2018

Germany’s defense ministry on Wednesday requested a final proposal from Lockheed Martin [LMT] on the first ever 360-degree, networked integrated air and missile defense system it is building to replace the country’s Patriot missile defense system.

Lockheed received the second and final request for proposal (RFP) for the potentially multi-billion dollar TLVS following negotiations with the German government on the system’s capabilities and overall risk management plan, a company spokesperson told Defense Daily.

Lockheed Martin announced a new joint venture to pursue the next generation Integrated Air and Missile Defense System, “TLVS,” for the German Bundeswehr. The joint venture is expected to become the prime contractor for the new system that will transform Germany’s defense capabilities. (PRNewsfoto/Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin announced a new joint venture to pursue the next generation Integrated Air and Missile Defense System, “TLVS,” for the German Bundeswehr. The joint venture is expected to become the prime contractor for the new system that will transform Germany’s defense capabilities. (PRNewsfoto/Lockheed Martin)

A contract for the first of its kind TLVS is expected in 2019, with plans to begin fielding capabilities by 2022.

“The threat demands an integrated air and missile defense system that is mobile, fully 360 degree capable, and based on an open network-centric architecture. Only TLVS has these capabilities,” Crystal Patton, a Lockheed Martin spokesperson, told Defense Daily.

TLVS is a joint effort between Lockheed and MBDA Italia. The German government settled on working towards a sole-source award for TLVS as their Raytheon [RTN]-built Patriot replacement after participating in the multi-nation Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program to test next-generation missile defense capabilities.

Frank St. John, Lockheed’s executive vice president for Missiles & Fire Control, previously told Defense Daily that capabilities developed under the MEADS formed the basis for TLVS, which is intended to be highly mobile, networked with an advanced command and control system and incorporate 360-degree coverage capabilities to combat modernized cruise and hypersonic missiles (Defense Daily, June 12).

The new missile defense system will incorporate a short range interceptor built by Germany’s Diehl, Lockheed’s PAC-3 interceptors, surveillance and fire control radars, and battle management systems that are entirely networked together.

Lockheed officials have said they expect 360-degree, networked missile defense systems to be the standard for major defense purchasers over the next 3-5 years.

“We are confident that under Germany’s leadership as NATO’s Air and Missile Defense Framework Nation, multiple partner nations will seek out this advanced capability once TLVS is on contract, because the threat demands it,” Patton said.