News

Data Link Solutions Receives Contract to Support Joint Tactical Radio System for U.S. Navy

May 2014

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Data Link Solutions (DLS), a joint venture between Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems, has added the TacNet™ Tactical Radio (TTR) to the Link 16 product line offered to its global military aircraft customers. The move expands the Link 16 product capability to include vital Link 16 situational awareness communication to the smallest, space-constrained platforms that previously had no such capability.

“The extraordinary success of this joint venture is the result of the trusted and collaborative relationship between Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems,” said Joe Senftle, vice president and general manager of Communications and Control Solutions at BAE Systems. “A new chapter to that success story is being written with the addition of TTR, which addresses the mission need for small, low cost Link 16 capability. This radio expands DLS’s future in tactical data link communications and solutions.”

DLS remains the only Link 16 provider to offer all terminal variants to the worldwide customer base. To date, DLS has sold more than $2 billion worth of Link 16 products to allied forces around the globe during the joint venture’s 20-year existence.

“It is only natural that we add TTR to the existing and very successful DLS product line,” said Mike Jones, vice president and general manager of Communication and Navigation Products at Collins Aerospace. “This addition leverages the excellent reputation and proven successes that the joint venture has achieved over the years. The product line expansion represents a strategic move for DLS, bringing a lower-cost Link 16 option to the smaller platforms, enhancing their situational awareness, and increasing their survivability.”

Earlier this year, TTR was used during a series of successful flight tests at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to help demonstrate how an open-systems architecture can enable improved interoperability between next-generation and legacy fighter aircraft. Lockheed Martin and a select industry team participated in the flight tests, which concluded a year-long independently funded research and development effort called Project Missouri. The tests between an F-22 and the F-35 Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CAT-B) were flown to assess the capability to share real-time information among varied platforms.

With its small size, high power output, and adaptability to various operational environments, TTR is integral to protecting allied forces by virtue of providing a common operating picture through Link 16 networked communications. Platforms and users that benefit from the radio include unmanned aerial systems, rotary wing aircraft, forward air controllers, military vehicles, mobile and transportable ground stations and small maritime assets — platforms that have historically not had access to Link 16 capability.

As the primary joint data link for U.S. and coalition forces, Link 16 provides near real-time, jam-resistant data communications. Link 16 also integrates command and control data including the sharing of targeting and situational awareness data among joint and coalition partners.

About Data Link Solutions

DLS was established in 1996 by two of the world leaders in military communications, Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems, to pursue next-generation Link 16 and advanced data link applications. DLS is a leading supplier of Link 16 terminals and software, as well as logistics and support services for air, land, and sea-based platforms. The company has a heritage of more than 30 years of Link 16 design and production experience, with more than 10,000 Link 16 systems delivered worldwide to more than 45 nations.

DLS has provided MIDS terminals for more than 40 different platforms in 38 countries. Product offerings include the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System Class 2 family, the Multi-functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) LVT and LVT-3 Fighter Data Link, the MIDS-LVT-2, the MIDS-On-Ship, the URC-138 Link 16 terminal, TacNet™ Tactical Radio and various country-unique data links. DLS is one of the only companies to provide MIDS-LVT variants including the Fighter Data Link, MIDS LVT-2/11, and MIDS-JTRS.