Above: US Navy F-18 fixed-wing aircraft takes off for flight over ocean from large ship aircraft carrier.
Courtesy BAE Systems

The contract includes continued production, retrofits, development and sustainment of MIDS JTRS terminals for future growth. MIDS JTRS provides situational awareness and enables Link 16 connectivity with jam-resistant, line-of-sight voice, video, and data communications for sea, ground and air assets.

 
The US and its allies operate in network-centric, information-intensive environments where communications, navigation and identification are mission‑essential capabilities. Warfighters must make well-informed, interoperable decisions swiftly, requiring large volumes of data to be exchanged in real-time. MIDS JTRS enables the interoperability across forces using Link 16.
 
“MIDS JTRS brings different generations of platforms onto a common communications network. It provides more stable and secure gateways in the most contested scenarios,” said Amber Dolan, director of Data Link Solutions. “This award enables Data Link Solutions to modernise thousands of MIDS JTRS terminals and provide new capabilities that support a variety of missions for the US Navy and coalition forces.”
 
MIDS JTRS is a four-channel software-defined radio designed to run the complex Link 16 waveform and up to three additional communication protocols. Link 16 is a standardised communications system used by NATO, the US, and its allies to share real-time tactical data. It is a scalable and flexible solution to tailor networks to mission needs. Tactical Targeting Networking Technology offers a low latency, high communications capability that provides critical platform connectivity and throughput within contested environments. The Department of Defense is fielding MIDS JTRS on the F-15, F-16, F/A-18 and F-22 aircraft, as well as ship and command and control assets.
 
DLS is a leading supplier of Link 16 terminals and software, as well as logistics and support services for air, land and sea-based platforms. With more than 25 years of experience providing affordable, high-performance, high-reliability data link terminals for forces, DLS has delivered more than 9,000 Link 16 systems worldwide to more than 50 nations.
 
Development, production and integration of MIDS JTRS will take place in Wayne, New Jersey and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This contract combines purchases for the US Navy, US Air Force, US Army and MIDS Program Office, as well as purchases for NATO nations under the Foreign Military Sales programme. As part of the IDIQ, the first task order of $116 million has already been awarded to provide terminals and spares, with follow-on production awards expected.