Palm Bay's L3Harris Wins $999M Navy Contract for Advanced Tactical Communications

L3Harris to Deliver Resilient Communication Solutions for U.S. and Coalition Forces

Nov 26, 2024

Palm Bay, FL — L3Harris Technologies, headquartered here in Palm Bay, has been awarded an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Navy valued at up to $999 million. L3Harris Technologies has been awarded an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Navy valued at up to $999 million. This major contract will see L3Harris providing resilient communications technology to U.S. and coalition forces over the next five years, strengthening secure communication capabilities such as data encryption, real-time operational updates, and cross-platform communication in both joint and allied operations.

MIDS JTRS: A Leap in Secure Communications

The Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) lies at the core of this contract, enhancing secure communication across military platforms. This four-channel, software-defined radio system offers advanced features, including Link 16 and Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) capabilities. Additionally, MIDS JTRS includes three extra channels designed for future growth and adaptability, supporting networking waveforms such as Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW), Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW), and Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), which are key to secure, real-time information exchange.

MIDS JTRS is intended to improve communication across a range of air, ground, and maritime platforms, enhancing situational awareness and coordination between U.S. and coalition forces. By providing a secure backbone for communications, this technology enhances the ability of allied forces to share real-time operational data, ensuring comprehensive situational awareness and improved mission success rates.

Contract Scope and Impact

Under the contract, L3Harris will undertake the production, retrofitting, development, and sustainment of MIDS JTRS terminals. The contract scope covers production, development, and support. These efforts will ensure the operational readiness of the MIDS JTRS terminals, which are critical for both U.S. and coalition forces. This effort will benefit not only the U.S. Navy and Air Force but also the MIDS Program Office and NATO member countries through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. By enhancing compatibility across allied forces, the technology aims to promote better communication and coordination among partners. The contract's ordering period extends through June 2029. Production and associated operations will be split equally between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Carlsbad, California, ensuring redundancy and efficiency across multiple work locations, while the program oversight and coordination will remain based in Palm Bay.

Christopher E. Kubasik, Chair and CEO of L3Harris, highlighted the significance of the MIDS JTRS technology in today's complex global threat environment. He emphasized that this system ensures coalition forces can maintain a cohesive operational picture, critical to achieving mission success. “Our technology provides a resilient communications foundation that is vital to the U.S. Navy and its allies, ensuring they can securely share information in real-time across multiple platforms,” Kubasik noted.

Strategic Importance of MIDS JTRS

The MIDS JTRS program, funded by the U.S. Navy, aims to enhance the capabilities of its predecessor, the MIDS Low Volume Terminal (LVT). While maintaining Link 16, J-Voice, and TACAN functionalities from the older LVT model, MIDS JTRS significantly enhances capabilities with improved throughput, frequency remapping, and programmable cryptography. These advancements make it an indispensable tool for modern joint and coalition operations. As threats such as cyber warfare and electronic jamming continue to evolve, robust and flexible communication systems like MIDS JTRS become increasingly vital.

With Link 16 providing the backbone for secure, high-speed data and voice exchange between military assets, MIDS JTRS also facilitates improved coalition interoperability, enabling allied forces to act on shared, real-time information effectively. The inclusion of advanced networking capabilities ensures that the system can meet future demands, allowing for adaptive growth as technology and tactical needs evolve.

Looking Ahead: Enhanced Capabilities for Coalition Forces

The contract awarded to L3Harris underlines the company’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge communication solutions for the U.S. military and its allies. In addition to this recent $999 million contract, L3Harris has also been awarded several other significant defense contracts, including a $587 million contract for the U.S. Navy's Next Generation Jammer and a $479 million contract to provide tactical radios to U.S. Special Operations Command. These initiatives demonstrate L3Harris's ongoing dedication to enhancing defense communication capabilities across various platforms and services. The MIDS JTRS system represents a major leap in secure communications technology, ensuring that U.S. and coalition forces have the tools needed to coordinate effectively in the most challenging operational environments.

As adversaries' capabilities grow more sophisticated, having resilient, secure, and integrated communication systems becomes increasingly crucial. L3Harris's work in providing the U.S. Navy with the MIDS JTRS will play an integral role in maintaining operational superiority by bolstering coalition-wide communication, promoting interoperability, and delivering real-time situational awareness that is indispensable for modern military missions. This contract not only underscores L3Harris's critical contributions but also highlights the importance of Palm Bay as a hub for advanced defense technology and innovation.

Conclusion

This IDIQ contract with L3Harris signifies a pivotal step in enhancing the communication infrastructure of the U.S. Navy and its allies. By leveraging advanced technology, such as MIDS JTRS, L3Harris is helping to ensure that allied forces are equipped to face emerging threats with enhanced coordination, secure data exchange, and increased situational awareness. The five-year contract ensures that L3Harris will continue to play a significant role in supporting U.S. and coalition forces with the resilient, advanced communication tools they need.

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