MBDA and Lockheed Martin are to share test and simulation facilities as the two firms partner to develop Germany’s next-generation air and missile defence system.
The two companies have formed joint venture TLVS, which is expected to become the prime contractor for the new defence system, the development of which is currently being negotiated with Germany’s procurement office for the Bundeswehr unified armed forces.
Dietmar Thelen from MBDA and Gregory Kee, director of TLVS for Lockheed Martin, will lead the company from the MBDA office in Schrobenhausen, Germany. The company will also have operations in Germany and in the USA.
TLVS will use the results and experiences from the US$4bn trilateral MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System) program, which saw the USA, Germany and Italy collaborating on the development of an air and missile defence system.
Thomas Gottschild, managing director of MBDA Deutschland, said, “With this joint venture, we will have direct access to the most advanced test and simulation facilities and the pooled expertise and resources of MBDA and Lockheed Martin. That’s how we’ll bring this important defence program to fruition for Germany and NATO.
Frank A St John, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), said, “We have partnered with MBDA Germany to bring air and missile defence solutions to life for more than 15 years. This joint venture takes our partnership to the next level, and we are excited about the possibility of delivering modern missile defence technology that will help Germany defeat current and future threats.
“We support Germany’s role as the lead Framework Nation for air and missile defence for NATO and believe the MEADS-based TLVS system is the next-generation solution that will provide the long overdue 360° mobile air and missile defence coverage they need to accurately identify and defeat threats.”
March 9, 2018
