Officials at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in San Diego required a secure, jam-resistant, and wireless communications system to support warfighters in the field.

They found their solution at ViaSat Inc. of Carlsbad, Calif., issuing a $52 million order for the company’s Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) satellite communications terminals.

The high-capacity MIDS enables digital data and voice communications, and also gathers information into a digital view of the battlefield, says a representative. In this way, MIDS can increase situational awareness during combat for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and U.S. defense partners.

The order includes airborne and ground-based Low Volume Terminals—called LVT(1) and LVT(2), respectively—and includes LVT(1) terminal variants and spares for E-2D, F/A-18, E/A-18G, EA-6B, and F-16 aircraft and MH-60R/S and CH-53K helicopters. It also calls for MIDS LVT(2) terminal variants and spares for various U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps applications, as well as MIDS LVT(1) variant terminals for Portuguese and Turkish F-16 aircraft.

Delivery of the units is expected to begin in May 2009 and extend through the first quarter of ViaSat’s fiscal year 2011.

For more information, visit ViaSat Inc. online at www.viasat.com.