New multimillion-dollar radio terminals designed to provide key capabilities to military aircraft have failed initial operational testing, largely due to errors by contractor ViaSat, according to Pentagon documents.
Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals for the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) are neither operationally effective nor operationally suitable, Michael Gilmore, the director of operational test and evaluation, warned in an April 21 letter to the congressional defence committees.
Inside the Pentagon reviewed a copy of the letter.
“MIDS JTRS as integrated into the [Navy’s] F/A-18E/F [Super Hornet] is not operationally effective,” Gilmore writes.
“It did not reliably support the execution of missions including antiair warfare, amphibious warfare, close air support and air interdiction.”