MIDS Fighter Data Link Terminal

The fighter data link provides the aircrew with immediate access to unprecedented amounts of critical information, such as friendly, unknown, and enemy flight data, and key data elements, such as location, direction of flight, altitude, and type of aircraft. This data allows members of a flight to keep track of each other's position and status without transmitting a single voice message.

Command control users include NATO, U.S., U.K., French, and Japanese Airborne Warning and Control System platforms, U.S. Navy Airborne Early Warning platforms, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems, U.S Navy carriers, cruisers, and other surface combatants and submarines, and various air defense ground environments. Current users include naval F-14Ds, U.K./Italian Tornados. In addition to U.S. Air Force F-15s, Link 16 is being integrated into Navy F/A-18E/Fs, F-16s, and the Eurofighter Typhoon, and is planned for a number of other platforms, such as Air Force bombers.

Data Link Solutions began production of the fighter data link in January 2000. Since then, we have installed more than 200 terminals in F-15 aircraft, including the A/B and C/D/E. Production will completely equip the F-15C/D fleet, earlier F-15A/B models now flown by the Air National Guard, and F-15E Strike Eagles, which are dual-role variants produced for both deep interdiction and air-to-air missions.

The fighter data link, also known as the MIDS low volume terminal version 3, was developed originally by Data Link Systems for use in the U.S. Air Force's F-15C/D Eagle, air superiority aircraft. The terminal is being adapted to interface with a series of Air Force F-15 fighters, and will provide a data link optimized for air superiority, deep interdiction, and air defense operations. Fighter data link terminals, along with joint tactical information distribution systems class 2 and Sea Harrier product lines, are the only Link 16 terminals currently in production world-wide. All Link 16 terminals are fully interoperable with each other.

The sole-source fighter data link contract was awarded to Data Link Solutions by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego, California, after a competition. The program is managed by the U.S. Navy's MIDS International Program Office, located in San Diego, California. This program is part of a long-term effort designed to satisfy the U.S. and Allied Forces' requirements for communications between airborne, shipboard, and ground forces. Its responsibilities include management of several versions of MIDS terminals for Navy, Air Force, Army, and international military use. Data Link Solutions' fighter data link is also a candidate for F-15s in Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea.

MIDS FDL FEATURES

• Voice
• Jam-resistant
• Crypto-secure
• Communication
• Navigation
• Identification
• 185 nmi
• NATO usage
• Time division multiple access
• Frequency hopping
• Tactical digital information link-J (TADIL-J)
• Relay capability
• Navigation situation including waypoints and targets
• Location of surface-to-air missile sites
• Friendly air bases and alternate recovery bases
• Location of friendly, hostile, and unknown aircraft
• Coordinated target assignment

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Ager
Director of Business Development
Tel: +1 973 633 6140
christopher.a.ager@baesystems.com