EADS Delivered Two MIDS to the Spanish Ministry of Defence

Released on Wednesday, November 28, 2007

EADS Defence & Security (DS) in Spain has delivered two new Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS) ground stations to the Defence Procurement Department of the Spanish Ministry of Defence (DGAM). The Data Link Management Cell based at Torrejón Air Force Base (AFB) will use these two stations to perform interoperability tests on different tactical platforms, such as the Eurofighter, the EF-18 Hornet, the future military transport aircraft A400M, the command and control centre ARS (Air traffic control, Rasp production centre, Sensor fusion post) and the frigates of the Spanish Navy.

Pablo de Bergia, Head of the DS Division in Spain, said: "The experience gathered by EADS Defence & Security in Spain in the field of tactical communications, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, has driven our country to the highest operational capabilities of the Link 16 communications system. This competence has allowed Spain to successfully take part in NATO interoperability exercises. Presently we continue with this important collaboration, and with the delivery of these two new ground stations we are contributing to the process necessary to the validation of the interoperability among Spanish and NATO's tactical platforms, and we are very proud of it".

Although the station represents three positions, one single operator is able to manage all functionalities during the missions. The ground stations are deployable via land, air and sea.

The programme foresees the delivery of a third MIDS ground station next year and the modernization of a fourth one, which was also delivered by Military Air Systems and which is currently in operation at Morón AFB.

The MIDS/Link 16 system is a very sophisticated data distribution system (hardware and protocols) that allows sharing of tactical data among different platforms, such as combat aircraft, ground-based or airborne radars, to perform complex military missions. EADS Defence & Security Spain has integrated the MIDS/Link 16 in the Eurofighter.