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May 14, 2018 / 1:48 PM

Navy awards contract to ViaSat for aircraft communication systems

The MIDS-LVT(1) - Link 16 Tactical Airborne Terminal is used by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps for secure communications aboard both fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft. Photo courtesy of ViaSat

The MIDS-LVT(1) - Link 16 Tactical Airborne Terminal is used by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps for secure communications aboard both fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft. Photo courtesy of ViaSat

May 14 (UPI) -- ViaSat Inc. was awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy for advanced aircraft communication systems.

The deal, announced Friday by the Department of Defense, is a modified contract worth $85.5 million.

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The contract modifies a previous Pentagon award under the terms of an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity multiple award contract.

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command awarded the contract to ViaSat in order to enable the delivery of the Block Upgrade II retrofit of Multifunctional Information Distribution System low volume terminals, according to the Defense Department

The Multifunctional Information Distribution System is classified as a C4I system, and is designed to handle advance command, control, communications, computing and intelligence tasks.

In practical terms, the Multifunctional Information Distribution System, or MIDS, is used for "secure, high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital data and voice communications capability" by the Navy, Air Force and Army, according to the Pentagon.

The MIDS system can be intergrated into mutliple fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft, such as the MH-60 and the C-130

Work on the contract will occur in Carlsbad, Calif., and is expected to be complete by May 2024.

No funds are obligated to ViaSat at the time of award.

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