EUROMIDS to build data communications terminals for secure information exchange among U.S. and allies

June 2, 2022
MIDS-LVT is the data communications terminal for allied Link 16 that enables military forces to exchange tactical information securely in real time.

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Navy communications experts needed data communications terminal for the U.S. and allied Link 16 that enables military forces to exchange tactical information securely in near-real time. They found their solution from EUROMIDS in Paris -- a European consortium of Thales, Leonardo, Indra Sistemas, and Hensoldt.

Officials of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command in San Diego, announced $322.2 million contract to EUROMIDS on Tuesday to provide Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVTs) for France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The MIDS-LVT is the data communications terminal for the U.S. and allied Link 16 that enables military forces to exchange tactical information securely in near-real time. Link 16 also exchanges text messages, imagery, digital voice.

Related: Data Link Solutions to upgrade MIDS JTRS Link-16 tactical communications terminals for ships and planes

The contract also includes software support to the five MIDS nations’ systems engineering and integration of MIDS-LVTs. MIDS offers high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital communication links for tactical information exchange among air, ground, and sea military forces. MIDS-LVT users are the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

Thousands of EUROMIDS MIDS-LVT terminals are fielded on a broad range of military aircraft, surface warships, and land applications including Rafale, Eurofighter, Mirage 2000, Tornado, NH90, A400M, SAMP-T, NATO ACCS Loc1 and the Horizon frigates.

The MIDS-LVT is a software-defined radio (SDR) tactical data link and networking system for aircraft, fixed sites, land vehicles, and surface warships. It is a four-channel communications system that delivers existing Link 16 tactical networking and situational awareness with concurrent multi-netting-4 and tactical air navigation (TACAN) functionality.

Related: Data in demand: answering the call for communications

The MIDS-LVT terminal has three channels for future growth, including advanced networking waveforms such as tactical targeting network technology, multifunction advanced data link, intra-flight data link, and other advanced networking waveforms.

The system is a line-of-sight radio system for collecting and transmitting broadband, jam-resistant, secure data and voice across a variety of air, sea, and ground platforms.

On this contract EUROMIDS will do the work in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and should be finished by June 2027. For more information contact EUROMIDS online at www.euromids.com, or the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command at www.navwar.navy.mil.

About the Author

John Keller | Editor-in-Chief

John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.

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