The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego is the contracting command. ViaSat has received an initial delivery order funding increment of $11 million to begin development planned for approximately the next six months.

The undefinitized contract modification and delivery order are anticipated to be finalized during this six month period, including provisions for the design, development and qualification of MIDS JTRS Terminals.

JTRS is a programmable radio technology that contributes to the new "network-centric" vision of the military by enabling a variety of military wireless communications devices to easily communicate with each other.

The technical objective of the MIDS JTRS program is to transform the current MIDS LVT (Low Volume Terminal) into a four-channel, Software Communications Architecture (SCA) compliant JTRS, while maintaining current Link-16 and tactical air navigation system (TACAN) functionality. MIDS gathers data from multiple sources and displays a digital view of the battlefield.

The MIDS JTRS Terminal is designed to be plug-and-play interchangeable for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force platforms that use MIDS LVT terminals, while accommodating future technologies and capabilities.

Improvements such as Link-16 enhanced throughput, Link-16 frequency re-mapping, and programmable crypto will also be realized in the MIDS JTRS design. In addition to the Link-16 and TACAN functionality, the MIDS JTRS includes three 2 MHz to 2 GHz programmable channels that allow the warfighter to use multiple waveforms.

"We're extremely pleased with this development program," said Paul Baca vice president of Tactical Data Links at ViaSat. "JTRS is an essential element of our military's evolution to network-centric operations. The MIDS JTRS program will provide a timely, economical means to upgrade the many platforms and users with MIDS LVT terminals to the future of tactical data networking."

ViaSat