Link 16 is amilitarytactical data link network used by NATO members and other nations, as allowed by theMIDS International Program Office (IPO). Itsspecification is part of the family of Tactical Data Links.
Link 16 enablesmilitary aircraft,ships, and ground forces to exchange their tactical picture in near-real time; it also supports the exchange of text messages, imagery, and voice (the latter on two digital channels: 2.4 kbit/s or 16 kbit/s in any combination). It is one of the digital services of theJTIDS /MIDS in NATO'sStandardization Agreement STANAG 5516. MIL-STD-6016 is the relatedUnited States Department of Defense Link 16MIL-STD.
Link 16 is aTDMA-basedsecure, jam-resistant, high-speeddigital data link that operates in the radio frequency band 960–1,215MHz, allocated in line with theInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU)Radio regulations to theaeronautical radionavigation service and to theradionavigation satellite service. This frequency range limits the exchange of information to users within line-of-sight of one another, although with satellite capabilities and ad hoc protocols, it is nowadays possible to pass Link 16 data over long-haul protocols such asTCP/IP usingMIL-STD 3011 (JREAP) orSTANAG 5602 (SIMPLE). It uses the transmission characteristics andprotocols, conventions, andfixed-length orvariable length message formats defined by MIL-STD 6016 and STANAG 5516 (formerly theJTIDS technical interface design plan). Information is typically passed at one of threedata rates: 31.6, 57.6, or 115.2 kilobits per second (kbit/s), although the radios andfrequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) waveform itself can supportthroughput values well over 1 Mbit/s.[1]
Link 16 information is primarily coded inJ-series messages which arebinary data words with well-defined meanings. These data words are grouped infunctional areas, and allocated tonetwork participation groups (NPG) (virtual networks), most importantly:
Link 16 is intended to advanceTactical Data Links (TDLs) as the NATO standard fordata link information exchange. Link 16 equipment is located in ground, airborne, and sea-basedair defense platforms and selectedfighter aircraft. The U.S. industry is now developing a new Link 16 SCA compliant radioMIDS-JTRS which currently is projected to implement nine various tactical waveforms, including Link 16.[citation needed]
TheMIDS program, which manage the development of the communication component for Link 16, is managed by the International Program Office located inSan Diego,California. In the United States, the lead Air Force command for theMIL-STD-6016 standard, plans, and requirements is theAir Force Global Cyberspace Integration Center atLangley AFB, with JTIDS program execution managed by the653d Electronic Systems Wing atHanscom Air Force Base nearBoston, Massachusetts. The MIL-STD-6016 Standardconfiguration management custodian is theDefense Information Systems Agency.
Some examples of platforms currently using the Link 16 capability are:
The U.S. Army is integrating Link 16 into selectcommand and control elements of itsUH-60 Black Hawk fleet,[citation needed] and intends to pursue fielding to AH-64 Apache and other aviation assets.
TheUSAF will add Link 16 to itsRockwell B-1 Lancer andBoeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers with the Common Link Integration Processing system.[3] Early versions of theLockheed Martin F-22 Raptor could only receive but not transmit Link 16 data,[4] on the basis that transmitting data would reveal its location.[5] Upgrades to the F-22 have since given it the ability to transmit Link 16 as well.[6]
At the same time, the company is working on enabling the Raptor to transmit Link 16 signals—currently the aircraft can only receive Link 16 — and fielding Increment 3.2B, a new software load that will allow the F-22 to take full advantage of the AIM-9X and AIM-120D Amraam missiles.