L3Harris Navy MIDS LVT Contract Strengthens Tactical Communications Sustainment
L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a $11.9 million U.S. Navy contract to support the Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Low Volume Terminal Block Upgrade 2, reinforcing long-term sustainment of critical tactical communications hardware.
Contract Details And Scope
L3Harris Technologies, through its Communication Systems-West division in Salt Lake City, Utah, received a firm-fixed-price long-term contract valued at $11,955,764. The award covers the repair of a single system component in support of the MIDS LVT Block Upgrade 2 program under the Common Systems Integrated Weapon Support Team.
According to the contract notice, the agreement does not include option provisions and all work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah. The effort is scheduled to run through February 2031, reflecting the Navy’s focus on sustaining fielded tactical data link capabilities over the long term.
While the contract is fully funded using Navy working capital funds, no funds are being obligated at the time of award, a standard practice for long-duration sustainment contracts.
The contracting activity is Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under contract number N00383-26-D-U001.
Sole-Source Award Justification
The Navy issued the contract as a sole-source award, soliciting one source under the authority of Title 10 U.S. Code Section 2304(c)(1), which permits non-competitive procurement when only one responsible source can meet agency requirements.
Only one offer was received, aligning with the Navy’s determination that L3Harris is the original equipment manufacturer with the technical data, tooling, and system knowledge required to support this MIDS LVT component.
Such sole-source sustainment contracts are common for advanced communications systems, where proprietary designs and security constraints limit alternative suppliers.
Why MIDS LVT Block Upgrade 2 Matters
The Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminal is a core element of Link 16, the secure tactical data network used across U.S. and allied air, naval, and ground forces.
MIDS LVT terminals enable real-time sharing of targeting data, situational awareness, and command information between platforms such as fighter aircraft, surface combatants, and command nodes. The Block Upgrade 2 configuration incorporates updated hardware and software features designed to maintain interoperability, reliability, and cybersecurity compliance.
Sustaining these terminals ensures continued mission effectiveness for platforms that rely on Link 16 as a primary tactical data link, especially in joint and coalition operations.
L3Harris Role In U.S. Tactical Communications
L3Harris is a long-standing supplier of secure communications, datalinks, and electronic systems to the U.S. Department of Defense. The company has played a central role in the development, production, and sustainment of MIDS terminals used by U.S. and allied forces.
This contract reinforces L3Harris’s position as a key provider of tactical communications sustainment, particularly in areas where lifecycle support and system reliability are as critical as initial procurement.
Strategic Context
Rather than acquiring new systems, the Navy continues to prioritize sustainment and readiness of existing communications infrastructure. Long-term repair contracts like this one help reduce downtime, manage lifecycle costs, and ensure operational availability of mission-critical equipment.
As contested and network-centric operations place greater demands on secure data sharing, maintaining trusted systems such as MIDS LVT remains a core requirement for U.S. naval and joint forces.
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