A joint venture from Lockheed Martin [LMT] and
MBDA Deutschland officially on Monday submitted its proposal to develop Germany’s next missile defense system set to be a first-of-its-kind 360-degree, networked integrated capability.
The official proposal to deliver the TLVS system follows a previous sole-source selection with the consortium to work on the multi-billion dollar program and a series of negotiations with the German government on the requirements to begin fielding by 2022.
“With its integrated plug and fight interface, TLVS is the most advanced, networked 360-degree IAMD system in the world. It is the only system with the ability to adapt to evolving threats using capabilities that are tailored to the mission. TLVS will transform Germany’s defense capabilities and set an important precedent in how neighboring nations address persistent global threats for years to come,” officials with the joint venture wrote in a statement.
TLVS will replace the Raytheon [RTN]-built Patriot system, with Lockheed Martin officials previously noting the new capability will be “highly mobile, networked with an advanced command & control system and incorporate 360-degree coverage capabilities to combat modernized cruise and hypersonic missiles” (Defense Daily, June 12 2018).
“This will be the first in Europe…quite honestly, it will be the first in the world to do the 360-degree and to do the networked capabilities within the missile defense system,” Frank St. John, Lockheed Martin executive vice president for missiles & fire control, told Defense Daily at last year’s Eurosatory conference.
Germany settled on a sole-source award for their Patriot replacement after participating in the multi-nation Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program to test next-generation missile defense capabilities with Lockheed Martin and MBDA.
The new proposal arrives after the German defense ministry released an official proposal request last August following negotiations with the joint venture on the system’s capabilities and overall risk management plan (Defense Daily, Aug. 16 2018).
“We’ve completely reimagined TLVS based on customer requirements. Our approach reduces risk, supports lower life cycle costs and enables more effective coalition operations,” Gregory Kee, managing director of the TLVS joint venture, said in a statement. “TLVS will allow Germany to provide regional protection as the Framework Nation for Air and Missile Defense for NATO, with a high degree of system sovereignty.”
A contract for TLVS is expected to be awarded sometime in 2019.
The TLVS will incorporate a short range interceptor built by Germany’s Diehl, Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 interceptors, surveillance and fire control radars, and battle management systems that are entirely networked together.