MIDS Fighter Data Link Terminal

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.

Integration of FDL into the F-15 provides pilots with enhanced tactical capabilities, including improved situational awareness. FDL will provide the aircrew with immediate access to unprecedented amounts of critical information, such as friendly, unknown and enemy flight data, including key data elements such as location, direction of flight, altitude and type of aircraft. This data also will allow all the members of a flight to keep track of each other's position and status without transmitting a single voice message.

The fighter data link, also known as the MIDS low volume terminal version 3 (LVT 3), was developed originally by Data Link Systems for use in the Air Force's F-15C/D Eagle, air superiority aircraft. This 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 JTIDS 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.

Command Control (C2) users include NATO, U.S., UK, French and Japanese Airborne Warning and Control System platforms, U.S. Navy Airborne Early Warning platforms, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS), U.S Navy carriers, cruisers, other surface combatants and submarines, and various air defense ground environments. Current users include naval F-14Ds, UK/Italian Tornados, while the number of planned users continues to grow. 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.

The sole source FDL 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' FDL is also a candidate for F-15s in Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea.

In April 2002, BAE Systems/Rockwell Collins Data Link Solutions has been awarded a $23 million contract by the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command for 73 additional fighter data link (FDL) terminals, and to support accelerated FDL terminal deliveries. Government furnished equipment will step up the production rate of FDL terminals from 20 to 32 per month.

MIDS FDL Features:

• Voice
• Jam-resistant
• Crypto-secure
• Communication
• Navigation
• Identification
• 185 nmi
• NATO usage
• TDMA
• Frequency hopping
• 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