The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division conducted the first flight of the Multi-Functional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) in an F/A-18F aircraft on Oct. 23 at China Lake, Calif.

In 2001, MIDS was directed to migrate to JTRS compliance. An incremental strategy was constructed that initially developed the core MIDS JTRS radio with full MIDS Low Volume Terminal (LVT) capability while adding three additional channels for JTRS waveforms as they become available. “Today, that is exactly what we are doing with our task to provide a JTRS compliant radio to the warfighter that maintains current capability and is built for growth,” said Cmdr. Nigel Nurse, MIDS JTRS assistant program manager. “We will deliver a terminal that can operate in today’s joint and combined combat operations as well as readily adapt to future networking requirements such as Tactical Targeting Networking Technology (TTNT) or Flexible Access Secure Transfer (FAST).”

The flight was in conjunction with the first checkout of the latest F/A-18 operational flight program (OFP), H5E. MIDS JTRS will initially deliver LINK 16 data and voice as well as Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) capability. MIDS JTRS also contain built in growth capability to port other JTRS compliant and future networking waveforms. This flight provided the first look at the MIDS JTRS TACAN capability and marks the first flight for a JTRS radio.

“We are very pleased with the success of this test,” said Eric Burkhardt, MIDS production integration lead at NAWCWD. “The new system will provide a much needed growth capability for future networking while at the same time retains compatibility with existing systems.”

MIDS JTRS is a planned product improvement to the MIDS-LVT (1) which today remains a successful multinational program. It is also one of the JTRS Enterprise product lines. The goal of JTRS is to produce a family of interoperable, modular software-defined radios that operate as nodes in a network to ensure secure wireless communication and networking services for fixed and mobile forces.

The next flight tests are scheduled to occur at Patuxent River, Md. later this month. Developmental test flights will concentrate initially on testing TACAN performance and will gradually migrate to simultaneous TACAN and LINK 16 testing starting early next year. The goal is to deliver this capability to the fleet in February 2009.

The MIDS Program Office (MPO), under the direction of Capt. David Prater, is responsible for both the MIDS JTRS and the MIDS LVT. The MPO manages the MIDS JTRS radio development effort between Data Link Solutions (an LLC of BAE Systems and Rockwell Collins) and Viasat.

“MIDS is breaking new ground daily for the JTRS Enterprise,” Nurse said. “There is still work to be done, but we haven’t lost sight of the warfighter needs. We are committed to delivering MIDS JTRS on schedule and on cost to the fleet.”

PHOTO CUTLINE

Photo By Joy Lewis
Vince Sherrick, test engineer with the NAWCWD F/A-18 Advanced Weapons Laboratory, installs the new Multi-Functional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) in an F/A-18F at VX-31 prior to a flight test on Oct. 23. This flight provided the first look at the MIDS JTRS and marked the first flight for a JTRS radio.