ViaSat’s Link 16 on Canadian frigates
ViaSat has delivered an end-to-end Link 16 communications system to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) for its Halifax-class frigates, the company announced on 5 September.
This system upgrade will enable the RCN to effectively communicate with US, NATO and other allied forces through Link 16 interoperability.
ViaSat’s Link 16 system supports a Canadian multilink capability using integrated shipboard racks equipped with critical support equipment required to operate the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminal (LVT) (4) technology.
The MIDS LVT (4) terminal is an advanced, anti-jam data and voice communications system. The complete Link 16 system installed on the Canadian frigates also includes specialised cabling to interface with Link 22 capabilities for future support and software diagnostic tools for terminal and network analytics.
ViaSat has partnered with MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates to build a Canadian repair, maintenance and upgrade facility for its Link 16 terminals to shorten repair, upgrade cycles and turnaround times as well as reduce overall maintenance costs to ViaSat defence customers.
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