• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
FY97 Annual Report

JOINT TACTICAL INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (JTIDS)

	Joint Program-ACAT ID (Air Force Lead) Terminal quantities and dollar amounts are for Army only. 80 Class 2M terminals Dollar amounts are for A Total program cost (TY$) $318M (est) Average unit cost (TY$) $900K (est) Full-rate production 3QFY97 Prime Contractor GEC-Marconi Electronics

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) is a communications, navigation, and identification system intended to support key theater functions such as surveillance, identification, air control, weapons engagement coordination, and direction. The system is jam resistant, providing joint interoperability, battlefield situational awareness, and information superiority through the exchange of TADIL J / Link 16 messages among JTIDS and Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS) equipped platforms of the Services and Allied forces. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army have begun fielding JTIDS to key theater command and control platforms and select weapons platforms. The Army acquisition of JTIDS supports the air defense artillery mission and theater missile defense mission areas.

The Class 2M terminal is the last of the Class 2 family of JTIDS terminals to be developed. It was uniquely designed to meet Army requirements of reduced cost and improved reliability. The Air Force and Navy Class 2 and 2H terminals completed operational tests and received Milestone III approval in 2QFY95. The Army Class 2M received Milestone III approval in 3QFY97. The Army is equipping its air defense artillery and theater missile defense command and control elements and select weapons platforms (Patriot) with JTIDS. Weapons platforms that are still under development (THAAD) will be equipped with the MIDS.

A Limited User Test was conducted in 1QFY95 and supported a low rate initial production decision for 35 Class 2M terminals. An Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) was conducted on the Army JTIDS system (Class 2M terminal, the JTIDS terminal controller, and the JTIDS antenna) in 1QFY97. Based on results from the IOT&E, the Army plans to conduct a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) Follow-On Test and Evaluation of the system in 1QFY98.

The IOT&E indicated the Army JTIDS system was operationally effective but not operationally suitable. The required message throughput was demonstrated in both benign and electronic warfare conditions, and joint interoperability was demonstrated. However, there were a large number of operational mission failures resulting in a demonstrated mean time between operational mission failure (MTBOMF) of 26.4 hours versus the 323 hours MTBOMF required. Soldiers had difficulty in achieving the required equipment setup and network entry times.. The Built-In Test (BIT) feature was assessed as immature. Maintenance and operations manuals were inadequate to support troubleshooting and failed to document many workarounds. The network management was not evaluated during the IOT&E.

A CAP Follow-on Test and Evaluation are planned to verify correction of deficiencies identified in the previous operational test. DOT&E recommended that such tests be conducted as a condition for approval to field the system. Focus of these tests will be on operational suitability and network management issues.

Joint operational tests of Link-16 equipment should be conducted early and often to ensure adequacy of host platform integration and implementation of message standards to support operations in a joint multi-service environment. Such tests can be conducted in existing hardware-in-the-loop simulation facilities and during ongoing joint exercises. This will provide to the services and CINCs an early appreciation of the value of Link-16 contribution to mission effectiveness as well as the difficulties operating Link-16 in a joint environment.

Message traffic data collected during operational tests and joint exercises takes substantial time and effort to reduce, analyze, and report. There are existing data reduction and analysis tools, which could be purchased at reasonable cost, that would greatly reduce the time and funding needed to complete these efforts.

The equipment under test should not enter final operational test if it is known a priori that the equipment will fail critical operational issues.