Four Phase Approach to Replace PATRIOTs

Lockheed Martin and MBDA Deutschland announced on 24 June that the two companies, through their TLVS bidders consortium joint venture, have now submitted a bid to the German government to develop, test and deliver the Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS) – Germany’s future integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) system.

The tender, submission of which marks a new chapter in the long-standing partnership between the two companies, proposes an efficient four-phased approach that includes development, integration, testing and delivery of a fielded multi-mission system. The fielded unit will deliver new capabilities and significant performance improvements well beyond those of the Medium Extended Air Defence System (MEADS) and similar programmes, the companies claim.

“A brief glance at the headlines show significant advances in adversarial threats in just the last five years, and we are operating in an environment today where those threats will likely only continue to proliferate […] Germany needs a future-proof solution that can grow with the emerging threat,” commented co-Managing Director of the joint venture, Dietmar Thelen.

Designed to replace Germany’s aging, sectored PATRIOT systems, which were designed in the late 1960s, the new TLVS proposal provides protection from a broader threat spectrum with two mission-specific effectors, significantly enhanced radar capabilities for long-range engagements and a new communications system to support enhanced interoperability, data fusion and cyber resilience. TLVS will be the first-ever IAMD system able simultaneously to detect, track and intercept multiple threat sets, including medium- and short-range threats, with full 360° coverage.

With its integrated ‘plug and fight’ interface, TLVS is the most advanced, networked 360° IAMD system in the world: and is the only one with the ability to adapt to evolving threats using capabilities that are tailored to the mission. TLVS will transform Germany’s defence capabilities and set an important precedent in how neighbouring nations address persistent global threats for years to come.

“We’ve completely reimagined TLVS based on customer requirements. Our approach reduces risk, supports lower life-cycle costs and enables more effective coalition operations […] TLVS will allow Germany to provide regional protection as the framework nation for air and missile defence for NATO, with a high degree of system sovereignty,” explained Mr Thelen’s co-Managing Director, Gregory Kee.