In an era where real time information exchange provides a critical edge in the battlefield, the Multifunctional Information Distribution System - Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) is on track to deliver the goods. The system is expected to bring the F/A-18, surface ships and allied air and sea platforms a new level of interconnectivity, providing operations with real time information exchange.

The program recently completed the first part of their Technical Evaluation (TECHEVAL) test phase with flights aboard an F/A-18 during the Joint Combat Identification Evaluation Team (JCIET) exercise at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

MIDS, an advanced, high capacity, jam resistant, digital communication link, is used for the exchange of near real-time secure voice and data information among air, ground and sea elements engaged in tactical operations. As the next generation, Link-16 compliant, Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I) system, MIDS is designed to facilitate the exchange of target information between a variety of platforms through the use of Surveillance, Air Control, and Fighter-to-Fighter networking capabilities. The system is compact and contained in a black box for easy flight-line maintenance.

Gary Kessler, F/A-18 Deputy Program Manager for Systems Development, explained, "MIDS is going to change the way the Hornet fights in battle. The pilot has complete situational awareness of the whole battlefield - all the time, without getting pieces of information from other data. MIDS pulls information together from other platforms and cuts down both the pilot's workload and decision time. The program is one of the most complex integration efforts ever attempted."

The MIDS-LVT, as installed in the F/A-18, demonstrated a capability to considerably increase aircrew situation awareness throughout all phases of the mission with a potential to revolutionize the way the aircraft is employed. VX-31 MIDS Project Officer, Maj. Brian Kelly (USMC) commented on the overall success of the exercise saying, "All around situation awareness was spectacular during the JCIET. Aircrews now realize how important Link-16 will be in future combat missions."

In addition to performing C3I functions, MIDS serves as a navigational aid by providing relative navigation position keeping functions through the use of Precise Participant Location and Identification (PPLI) Link-16 messages. MIDS also incorporates TACAN functionality, replacing the AN/ARN-118 TACAN system.

JCIET is a large-scale tactical evaluation that employs equipment and personnel from all armed services to evaluate, investigate, and assess various concepts of Combat ID on the battlefield. A combined detachment, five F/A-18 aircraft from Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons, VX-23 from Patuxent River and VX-31 from China Lake were deployed to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It involved aircrew, engineers and maintenance personnel from Patuxent River, China Lake and Boeing who work together to achieve common test objectives. Operational test aircrew from VX-9 also participated as part of an ongoing evaluation and continued involvement in the test program.

Fifty-five flights were flown from Eglin as part of the JCIET 2002 large-scale evaluation. These sorties were flown during both day and night operations. Portions of each flight were allocated for participation in both opposing force (OPFOR) and friendly force (BLUEFOR) Link-16 networks

Kessler said, "JCIET was an exercise that showed how MIDS would work in a real life battlefield situation. The system performed wonderfully. This gives us confidence and highlights critical areas to address as we finish up TECHEVAL and go into OPEVAL (Operational Evaluation) this fall. At the same time MIDS goes to OPEVAL to achieve Initial Operational Capability, we will turn the system over to newly formed F/A-18E/F squadrons'VFA-14 and VFA-41 for training for deployment as part of the Nimitz Battle Group in early 2003."

MIDS will be carried both shipboard and airborne in a variety of platforms; the F/A-18 is the lead aircraft platform. Within the Navy, the Program Executive Office, Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO-T) Tactical Datalinks Office (PMW-101/159) manages the MIDS program and the F/A-18 Program Office (PMA265) manages F/A-18 MIDS integration and testing.

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