Canada to buy US MIDS-JTRS radios for CF-18 and CC-130J.

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Canada of 152 MIDS-JTRS (5) with support for an estimated cost of $44 million.  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 29, 2019.

CC-130J Hercules (Picture source: Canadian Air Force )

The Government of Canada has requested to buy 152  MIDS JTRS (5) with Remote Power Supply. Also included are spare cables and MIDS batteries; Link-16 mobile racks; diagnostic support tools; technical documentation; training and engineering technical support; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $44 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of Canada, a NATO ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress and a contributor to military, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world.

Canada intends to upgrade its current inventory of CF-18 Aircraft, CC-130J, and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Ground Stations with the purchase of these MIDS JTRS (5) terminals to be fully interoperable with U.S. and allied forces to support and compliment joint operations in a net-enabled environment; have modernized electronic protection and secure, jam-resistant wave forms; and be capable of improved Link 16 message exchange and information fidelity including support to advanced weapon employment. Canada will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal vendors for MIDS JTRS are Viasat, Incorporated, headquartered in Carlsbad, CA, and Data Link Solutions, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, IA. The Government of Canada is expected to negotiate an offset agreement with one of the vendors, in accordance with Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, after signing the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), but details are not known at this time.