Harris Corp. has won a two-year, $10m follow-on production contract from ViaSat for additional hardware to be integrated into multifunctional information distribution system terminals. The follow-on award brings the overall value of the contract for Harris to $174m since 2000.
According to Harris, multifunctional information distribution system terminals (MIDS) terminals provide military forces with high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital communication links for exchange of near real-time tactical information, including both data and voice, among air, ground, and sea elements.
Harris is providing an enhanced voice card, power supply assemblies, processor modules, and the chassis for each of the terminals, as well as 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.
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.
Wes Covell, president of Harris Defense Programs, said: 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. The ViaSat/Harris team continues its commitment to providing superior, interoperable, tactical communications to the warfighter.
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