Data Link Solutions Awarded $56.6 Million to Provide MIDS Terminals to U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2003

Order includes 216 terminals, bringing the total number ordered

under this contact to over 600

BAE SYSTEMS/Rockwell Collins Data Link Solutions, L.L.C. (DLS) has been awarded a $56.6 million delivery order to provide Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals to the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in San Diego, CA.

The order is for an additional 216 terminals plus spares as part of an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract awarded in January 2000, bringing the total number of terminals ordered to more than 600 under this contract. This program was recently approved for full rate production as a result of a successful Defense Acquisition Process.

The MIDS terminals will provide secure, high capacity, jam resistant voice and data communications capabilities for U.S. and allied forces. The terminals will be deployed on several U.S. aircraft, including the U.S. Navy's F/A-18s and U.S. Air Force F-16s, as well as platforms for Australia, Belgium, Norway and Poland.

Link 16 provides real-time, jam resistant secure transfer of combat data, voice and relative navigation information between widely dispersed battle elements. Participants gain situational awareness by exchanging digital data over a common communication link that is continuously and automatically updated in real time, reducing the chance of fratricide, duplicate assignments or missed targets. Each participant in the communication link is able to electronically see the battle space, including assigned targets or threats.

The DLS MIDS terminals were the first MIDS production terminals to be certified for use and the first to be deployed in operational service on missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. More than 14 countries have installed/selected DLS MIDS terminals on 19 platforms.

DLS was established in 1996 by BAE SYSTEMS and Rockwell Collins (NYSE:COL) to pursue next generation Link 16 applications. With a heritage of more than 20 years of design and production experience of over 2,000 systems, DLS today is a leading supplier of Link 16 terminals and systems integration, software, logistics and support services for air, land and sea-based platforms. Its product offerings include the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) Class 2 family, the Multi-functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) LVT-1 Low Volume terminal and MIDS Fighter Data Link (FDL) and the URC-138 (U.K. Sea Harrier/Sea King) Link 16 terminal.