BAE Systems Delivers Upgraded Link 16 Test Capability for U.S. Air Force F-16 Fleet

Image: BAE Systems.

BAE Systems has delivered a new automated Link 16 test capability for F-16 aircraft, cutting maintenance downtime and boosting fleet readiness for the U.S. Air Force.

The upgrade targets the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) terminal. BAE Systems integrated the new test solution into two existing avionics shop platforms, the VXI-based Improved Avionics Intermediate Shop (VXIIAIS) and the Rackmount Improved Avionics Intermediate Shop (R-IAIS). Maintainers can now validate MIDS JTRS terminals on-site, without shipping units off-base.

As per a recent company statement, Meg Redlin, product line director for Advanced Mission Solutions at BAE Systems, said: “This enhanced Link 16 test capability on the R-IAIS system marks a major milestone in our efforts to support the U.S. Air Force’s modernisation efforts.” She added that greater fidelity in testing, including tactical navigation functions, would allow forces and allies to diagnose failures and validate terminal status on-site, increasing aircraft availability.

MIDS JTRS is a four-channel software-defined radio supporting Link 16, the encrypted real-time data-sharing network used by NATO and allied forces. The system delivers jam-resistant voice, video, and data communications across air, sea, and ground assets. The upgrade replaces the older MIDS Low Volume Terminal test with improved performance.

BAE Systems supplies emulators and software enabling maintainers to accurately diagnose faults, verify repairs, and improve line-replaceable unit recovery rates, reducing the need for additional parts procurement.

The U.S. Department of Defense fields MIDS JTRS across the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, and F-22, as well as ship and command-and-control assets. Development work takes place at BAE Systems facilities in San Diego, California and Wayne, New Jersey.

Read more on BAE Systems’s Website

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