, ▁frequencies , ▁and ▁information ▁are ▁all ▁encrypted ▁to ▁provide ▁computer - to - comput er ▁connect ivity ▁in ▁support ▁of ▁every ▁type ▁of ▁military ▁platform ▁to ▁include ▁Air ▁Force ▁f igh ters ▁and ▁Navy ▁sub mar ines . ▁ ▁The ▁full ▁development ▁of ▁J T ID S ▁comm enced ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁when ▁a ▁contract ▁was ▁placed ▁with ▁S inger - K ear f ott ▁( l ater ▁G EC - Mar con i ▁Electron ic ▁Systems , ▁now ▁B AE ▁Systems ▁E & IS ). ▁Field ing ▁proceeded ▁slowly ▁throughout ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 9 8 0 s ▁and ▁early ▁ 1 9 9 0 s ▁with ▁rapid ▁expansion ▁( follow ing ▁ 9 / 1 1 ) ▁in ▁prepar ation ▁for ▁Operation ▁End uring ▁Fre edom ▁( A fg han istan ) ▁and ▁Operation ▁Ira qi ▁Fre edom . ▁Development ▁is ▁now ▁carried ▁out ▁by ▁Data ▁Link ▁Sol utions , ▁a ▁joint ▁B AE / R ock well ▁Collins ▁company , ▁Via S at , ▁and ▁the ▁M ID S ▁International ▁cons ort ium . ▁ ▁Over view ▁ ▁J T ID S ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁family ▁of ▁radio ▁equipment ▁implementing ▁what ▁is ▁called ▁Link ▁ 1 6 . ▁Link ▁ 1 6 , ▁a ▁highly - sur viv able ▁radio ▁communic ations ▁design ▁to ▁meet ▁the ▁most ▁string ent ▁requirements ▁of ▁modern ▁combat , ▁provides ▁reliable ▁Situ ational ▁A war eness ▁( SA ) ▁for ▁fast - mov ing ▁forces . ▁Link ▁ 1 6