BERLIN, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, visitors to this year's ILA Berlin Air Show have the opportunity to view all components of Germany's future air and missile defense system called Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS).  MEADS^® is the foundation for TLVS and was developed in Germany, Italy and the U.S. by MBDA and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT).

In June 2015, the Bundeswehr announced the selection of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) for TLVS. In February, MBDA Deutschland received the German Defense Ministry's request for proposal to complete development of TLVS. MBDA and Lockheed Martin are currently preparing a response to the proposal.

At the ILA Berlin Air Show, and in cooperation with Diehl Defense, the MEADS partners and the German Bundeswehr are exhibiting five components of the future system for the first time. Components include a tactical operation center, multifunction fire control radar, power generation unit and launchers for the Lockheed Martin PAC-3 MSE Missile and Diehl IRIS-T-SL missile.

"TLVS/MEADS marks the advent of the next generation of ground-based air defense systems," said Thomas Homberg, managing director of MBDA Deutschland. "Its 360-degree full-coverage defense capability and open system architecture with plug-and-fight functionality have been proven in live-fire exercises, offer massive capability gains and enable a degree of interoperability with allies that has been impossible up until now."

"Interest in TLVS/MEADS is exceeding our expectations," said Rick Edwards, executive vice president at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Countries that have already chosen a competing system are now reconsidering their decisions in view of the unique performance capability of this new system. The rollout in Germany has received considerable international interest."

The MBDA booth can be found at Display G3/001. The Bundeswehr, Germany's unified armed forces, is exhibiting the TLVS/MEADS equipment at the ILA Plaza Display H4, Booth 003.

For additional information, visit our website: www.meads-amd.com, where you can also find 360-degree images of the TLVS/MEADS equipment at ILA.

About MBDA Deutschland

MBDA Deutschland is a leader in the development and production of air defence and guided missile systems for the German Army, Navy and Air Force. The company possesses production and management experience from over 50 years of industrial participation in national and international air defence and guided missile programmes. These include the ground-based MEADS tactical air defence system as well as Patriot, the Rolling Air Frame Missile (RAM) and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) for naval deployment, the Meteor and TAURUS missiles, developed in European cooperation, for airborne forces, and the MILAN and the PARS 3 LR helicopter armament for ground forces.

MBDA Deutschland is a part of the European MBDA Group. The company operates sites in Schrobenhausen, Ulm and Aschau am Inn. MBDA is a joint undertaking of the AIRBUS Group (37.5%), BAE SYSTEMS (37.5%) and LEONARDO-FINMECCANICA (25%).

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin