The Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, FMV, has awarded a $29.6 million contract to Data Link Solutions for multifunctional information distribution system -- low-volume terminals.

DLS will supply MIDS-LVTs to the Swedish armed forces for installation in Gripen fighter planes, aircraft equipped with command and control Erieye C2 systems and other ground and maritime applications.

The compact, low-cost link-16 terminal provides a critical airborne, ground and maritime link and is specifically designed for applications such as fighter aircraft.

The terminals provide real-time data communications, situational awareness, navigation and, in some cases, digital voice in "a jam-resistant, crypto-secured package," DLS said. They provide critical airborne, ground and maritime link for simultaneous coordination of forces in battlefield operations.

The MIDS-LVT, a compact and low-cost terminal, is designed especially for areas where space is at a premium. A major application is within fighter aircraft with a flexible, open-architecture design.

Work will be performed on the terminals in Wayne, N.J.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Heidelberg, Germany. Deliveries under the 10-year contract are to begin this year and continue to 2012.

"This contract continues a 10-year relationship between DLS and the Swedish military to meet their data link network requirements," said DLS Director Steve Overbeck.

The first generation of terminals Class 2, 2H, and 2M and the second-generation MIDS fighter data link and low-volume terminals are completely interoperable.

Data Link Solutions was set up in 1996 by BAE Systems and Rockwell Collins to pursue next-generation link-16 applications.

The Swedish deal comes after a $20 million contract awarded in March by the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command for DLS to provide MIDS-LVT link-16 terminals to U.S. and coalition forces.

The U.S. Navy award includes radios for U.S. platforms such as the Sikorsky MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk multi-mission helicopters as well as the F/A-18 Hornet fighter plane.

This award includes additional MIDS-LVT(2/11) terminals for U.S. applications and customers, including the U.S. Army, Battlefield Airborne Communication Node and Joint Forces Command.

The MIDS-LVT(2/11) is designed specifically for U.S. Army Patriot Information Coordination Central and Battery Command Posts as well as Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control Units.

Export customers include the armed forces of Finland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Work on the U.S. Navy contract will be done in Wayne, N.J.; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed by December 2011. The MIDS program is managed by the DLS office in San Diego.

DLS, which has headquarters in Cedar Rapids, said it has delivered more than 4,000 link-16 systems worldwide, providing MIDS terminals for more than 40 platforms in 28 countries.