Harris Corporation has received a two-year, $24 million follow-on contract from ViaSat, Inc., for Lot 4 production of Multi-functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminals (LVTs).
The MIDS LVTs will provide U.S. military forces with secure, jam-resistant, voice and data transmission capabilities based on the Link-16 protocol for digital tactical communications. The follow-on contract contains a $9.6 million option that could bring the overall MIDS program value for Harris to more than $66 million by 2006.
“We are very pleased that ViaSat has again selected Harris as its partner in providing this advanced, tactical communications technology to the warfighter,” said Bob Henry, corporate senior VP and president of Harris Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD).
“MIDS combines the very best of Harris’ proven experience in communications systems integration, and reaffirms our commitment to providing flexible, assured, and interoperable communications solutions for the U.S. military.”
The ViaSat/Harris team is under contract to the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) for full-rate production of LVT 1 terminals, which will be installed in military aircraft such as the U.S. Navy F/A-18 and the Air Force F-16.
The LVT 2 terminals, which are designed for ground-based applications in shelters, vehicles and weapon systems such as the Patriot, are also part of Lot 4. Harris is providing an enhanced voice card, power supply assemblies, processor modules, and the chassis for each of the terminals, as well as comprehensive environmental testing of the assemblies.
Most U.S. Air Force and NATO fighter aircraft today have only voice or limited data communications capabilities that can connect only selected aircraft to each other. MIDS will provide interoperable data communications that link fighter aircraft to airborne controllers, surveillance radars, collection assets, and ground-based command and control nodes.
The MIDS LVT’s Link-16 protocol will provide combat aircraft with integrated information from the battlefield. It also will provide the capability to transmit threat and targeting data to U.S. combat aircraft in near real-time. All U.S.-allied nations are strong potential customers for the MIDS application.
