Navigation and Communication for the detached force element have critical in the emerging harsh disjointed battlefield of Joint Vision 2010. The Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, which is the basis for the US and NATO Standard Link 16 provides both Anti-jam communications with rates up to 1.5 MBPS as well as accurate relative navigation. Link 16 was also selected by the JSTARS and AWACS sensor/C3I platforms to distribute the air and ground situation intelligence. Link 16 can also provide an AJ communications channel to seed a GPS receiver to allow it to operate in a more jammed environment as ViaSat is addressing for the Navy. ViaSat proposes to address the "Need for a Lightweight Integrated Navigation and Communications Radio System" with an integrated L-band GPS and Link 16. This effort will draw on activities for the Navy to reduce the ViaSat MIDS terminal to less than 50 cubic inches for missile applications and the commercial drive to reduce GPS receivers further. The market generated by missiles and Army ground force elements will make such a terminal a very high probability commercial success, lowering the total acquisition and Life Cycle Costs to the Government.
Benefits: The Lightweight Integrated Link 16/GPS Radio System will provide an anti-jam, LPI US/NATO interoperable radio system for joint and coalition actions. It will employ commercial based components from the PCS phone and GPS navigation businesses to greatly reduce the cost to the Military. Commonality across the l-band GPS and Link 16 functions will reduce military logistics item management. The Link 16/GPS navigation linkage will potentially provide a commercial benefit to the Civil Aircraft landing business as it transitions to the Local Area Augmentation System.
