Data Link Solutions opening new Link 16 support facility in Germany

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Data Link Solutions (DLS) has opened its Link 16 European Service and Support Facility in Heidelberg, Germany. The facility will serve the company’s European customers of Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals and also provide support services associated with Link 16 terminal, applications and integration support. DLS has delivered over 4,000 Link 16 terminals in various airborne, maritime and ground applications.

Data Link Solutions’ European Service and Support Facility will be located within Rockwell Collins Deutschland GmbH’s facility at Grenzhoefer Weg 36, 69123, Heidelberg, Germany, and will be operated by Rockwell Collins Deutschland personnel under a subcontract with Data Link Solutions. Rockwell Collins Deutschland is an affiliate of Rockwell Collins, Inc.

“With the opening of this strategically located facility, our European customers will realize significantly reduced repair turnaround times that will result in operational and maintenance savings while eliminating the burden of transporting terminals back to the United States. Although the facility will focus on our European customers, it is available to support any users of DLS MIDS equipment,” said Bob Gabel, director of Data Link Solutions. “Our European Support Facility is just a stepping stone for DLS to provide global support services to all of the more than 30 countries that use our Link 16 terminals and systems today. Leveraging our parent companies’ global footprint, DLS is working to expand our support capabilities to address the Pacific Rim, the Middle East and the Americas.”

MIDS provides real-time data communications, situational awareness and navigation, and in some cases digital voice, all in a jam-resistant, crypto-secured package. Today, various types of MIDS terminals are providing interoperable communications aboard U.S. and coalition tactical fighter aircraft, command and control aircraft, ships and ground sites.

The new Data Link Solutions facility will provide MIDS Organizational (“O”) and Intermediate (“I”) Level maintenance and material services. DLS’ terminal maintenance concept utilizes the recently introduced MIDS Integration and Test Environment (MITE™) system to provide an Line Replacement Unit (LRU) test capability with fault isolation to the Shop Replaceable Unit (SRU) module. MITE identifies the faulty SRU, which is then replaced by the use of a country specific/country-supplied SRU spare. The terminal LRU is then retested under a Return to Service procedure, ensuring that the terminal is ready for service.

In addition, the Heidelberg facility will provide customers with Link 16 training, logistics support, Field Service Engineering, customer LRU / SRU storage management, terminal transportation coordination and Link 16 integration support to platform OEMs.