Viasat and the joint venture Data Link Solutions LLC (comprised of BAE Systems and Collins Aerospace) have each been awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts worth $1 billion from the Department of Defense. The contracts have been issued for the production, retrofitting, development, and sustainment of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems, or MIDS JTRS, terminals.
The MIDS JTRS terminal is a software-defined radio that provides secure, line-of-sight voice and data communications for a variety of air, sea, and ground platforms. The jam-resistant radio can transmit and receive data over Link 16 and Tactical Air Navigation systems like existing technology. It can also use new communications protocols and advanced networking waveforms, including the multifunction advanced data link and the intra-flight data link.
According to the contract announcement, there are three-terminal variants covered by this award: the Concurrent Multi-Netting-4, the Tactical Targeting Network Technology, and the F-22 variant.
The combined contracts will provide terminals for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and NATO nations.
The award is a followup to five-year contracts issued to both companies in 2015, which are set to expire May 27. Work under the new contracts is expected to be complete by May 2025.
