Viasat Inc., a global communications company, announced today it was awarded a six-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract in May 2018 from the U.S. Government valued at up to $85.5 million for Block Upgrade 2 (BU2) hardware and software upgrades and support services to their Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) Link 16 radio sets.
The order is the result of a sole source procurement through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego, Calif. The order adds modernized Link 16 communications capability for U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and selected Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Customers. Initial delivery orders under the contract total $22 million.
“Viasat is extremely pleased to receive this sole source award to deliver enhanced Link 16 capability to U.S. and allied forces,” said Ken Peterman, president, Government Systems, Viasat. “This order reflects the U.S. Government’s commitment to maintaining the long-term viability of MIDS-LVT radios deployed worldwide, which will ensure continued tactical data link capability and interoperability with Link 16 equipped platforms and warfighters into the future.”
Link 16 provides real-time situational awareness and jam-resistant communications across hundreds of air, sea, and ground platforms in nearly fifty coalition countries; offering true interoperability and real-time exchange of battlespace information, increasing mission effectiveness and warfighter safety.
MIDS-LVT forms the backbone of the Link 16 network across the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the international coalition. BU2 capabilities ensure that MIDS-LVT terminals remain interoperable with platforms that utilize other modernized Link 16 terminals, such as the MIDS Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) family of terminals and Viasat’s Small Tactical Terminal and Handheld Link 16 radios which are enabling new concepts of operation and warfighter tactics throughout the U.S. DoD and International Coalition Defense Forces.
