Harris Corporation awarded $18 million follow-on production contract for MIDS military tactical communications system

Harris Corporation has received a two-year, $18 million follow-on contract from ViaSat Inc. for additional hardware to be integrated into Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals. MIDS terminals provide military forces with high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital communication links to exchange near real-time tactical information, including both data and voice - among users in the air, on ground and at sea. The follow-on award brings the overall value of the contract for Harris to $192 million since 2000.

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 completed assemblies for ViaSat's MIDS Low Volume Terminal (LVT). The LVT provides US military forces with voice and data transmission capabilities based on Link 16 protocol requirements for digital tactical communications.

Most of today's US Air Force and NATO fighter aircraft have voice and/or limited data communications capabilities that can only connect with selected aircraft. MIDS provides interoperable data communications that link fighter aircraft to airborne controllers, surveillance radars, collection assets and ground-based command and control nodes. The MIDS LVT Link 16 protocol provides combat aircraft with integrated information from the battlefield, including threat and targeting data in near real-time. All US-allied nations are high-potential customers for the MIDS application.

"The MIDS program combines the very best of Harris Corporation's proven expertise in communications systems integration, and highlights the success of the strong, long-term partnership we have with ViaSat," said Wes Covell, president, Harris Defense Programs. "The ViaSat/Harris team continues its commitment to providing superior, interoperable, tactical communications to the warfighter."

The ViaSat/Harris team is under contract to the US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) for full-rate production of various models of MIDS, which are installed in military aircraft such as the US Navy F/A-18 and the US Air Force F-16, and also used in ground-based applications in shelters, vehicles and weapon systems such as the Patriot missile defense system.

Source: Harris Corp.