The EuroMIDS consortium has secured a contract to develop a next-generation tactical communications terminal that will enhance data sharing and interoperability across European military aircraft.
Awarded by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, the deal supports the EMIDS-2 program, which will deliver the F-EMIDS (European Multifunctional Information Distribution System) terminal for combat aircraft.
The terminal will replace existing Link 16-based systems on platforms including the Eurofighter, Rafale, Tornado IDS/ECR, Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, and France’s E-3F airborne warning and control system aircraft.
According to the consortium, F-EMIDS will enable continuous, real-time exchange of tactical data while introducing new communications capabilities intended to meet future operational requirements.
Software-Defined Architecture, New Waveforms
EuroMIDS comprises Germany’s Hensoldt Sensors, Spain’s Indra Group, Italy’s Leonardo, and France’s Thales SIX GTS France.
Indra will develop two versions of the terminal under the program.
The F-EMIDS A.0 will serve as a software validation platform, demonstrating the system’s communications and software functions. The F-EMIDS B.0 will become the first hardware prototype, featuring separate processing environments for classified and unclassified information.
The terminal will use a software-defined radio architecture, allowing new frequencies, waveforms, and communications standards to be added through software updates instead of hardware modifications.
It will also feature a dual cryptographic architecture, Concurrent Multi-Netting — which enables participation in multiple tactical networks simultaneously — and Concurrent Contention Receive, a capability designed to improve data reception in congested radio-frequency environments.
Another planned feature is support for the European Secure Software-defined Radio (ESSOR) broadband waveform, which provides standardized, secure communications across allied military platforms.
Building on ESSOR
The EMIDS-2 program builds on an earlier effort to establish a common family of ESSOR-compatible terminals for multiple domains, including F-EMIDS for fighter aircraft, H-EMIDS for helicopters, M-EMIDS for naval platforms, and S-EMIDS for land forces.
Link 16 remains the NATO standard tactical data link, enabling aircraft, ships, and ground units to exchange situational awareness and targeting information during joint operations.
However, defense organizations across Europe have been working to develop more flexible, software-defined systems capable of supporting evolving operational requirements, higher data throughput, and additional secure waveforms while maintaining interoperability with allied forces.
