ORLANDO/MUNICH/ROME, 19-JUN-07 --

The US Defense Security Service (DSS) has announced that MEADS International is one of 30 companies to receive the James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award next week.

It is the second Cogswell Award for MEADS International, which is a multinational joint venture established in 1996 to develop a 21st century replacement for Patriot air and missile defense systems in the United States and Germany, and Nike Hercules systems in Italy.

The Cogswell Award is the most prestigious honor DSS may bestow on a cleared facility and is presented annually. DSS presents the award to defense contractors that demonstrate excellence in industrial security, including a security program that goes well beyond basic National Industrial Security Program requirements. It recognizes outstanding achievement in a facility’s security program.

MEADS International Security Manager Ron Walls said, “MEADS International is very pleased to receive this award, which culminates a year in which we successfully implemented a transatlantic NATO classified network that enables our seven work locations to collaborate in designing the MEADS system. Not only were we selected for the award as an international entity, but we also had to demonstrate successive Superior ratings in multiple program areas.”

“We also recognize the continuing support we receive from Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control as our host facility in Orlando. The support of their outstanding security program is a foundation for innovations we’ve been asked to achieve on behalf of MEADS. We have also benefited from the strong security cooperation of partner companies LFK and MBDA,” he added.

To be a candidate for the award, a facility must receive a minimum of two consecutive Superior industrial security review ratings and show sustained excellence and innovation in their overall security program. DSS makes the final selections.

MEADS International President Jim Cravens said, “Our unique international organization has a special mission to develop a system that will protect warfighters from Germany, Italy, and the United States against future air and missile defense threats. The Cogswell Award is a testament to the security measures we have been taking to protect the sensitive data associated with developing the MEADS system.”

MEADS will provide capabilities beyond any other fielded or planned air and missile defense system. It will be easily deployed to a theater of operations and once there, will keep pace with fast-moving maneuver forces. When completed, MEADS will be the only air and missile defense system able to roll off tactical transports with the troops and almost immediately begin operations. More importantly, its open architecture will provide for 21st century air and missile defense system-of-system integration capabilities that allow operational mission-tailoring for homeland defense or defense of maneuver forces. MEADS will also provide greater firepower with less manpower than current systems, producing dramatic operation and support cost savings.

In May 2005, MEADS International signed a definitized contract valued at $2 billion plus €1.4 billion for MEADS design and development. A multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, FL, MI’s participating companies are MBDA Italia, Lenkflugkörpersysteme (LFK) in Germany and Lockheed Martin in the United States. Together, these companies have focused an international engineering team in Orlando to develop systems and technologies for the MEADS program, which is closely watched as a model for collaborative transatlantic development. The United States funds 58 percent of the MEADS program, and European partners Germany and Italy provide 25 percent and 17 percent respectively.

The Cogswell award, established in 1966, is named in honor of the late Air Force Col. James S. Cogswell, who was the first chief of the unified office of Industrial Security. Cogswell was responsible for developing the basic principles of the Industrial Security Program, which include an emphasis on the partnership between industry and government to protect classified information, which ultimately helps to ensure the protection of the U.S. warfighter.