Editing Link 16 (section)

== Technical characteristics ==

Link 16 is a [[Time-division multiple access|TDMA]]-based [[security|secure]], jam-resistant, high-speed [[digital data]] link that operates in the radio frequency band 960–1,215 [[Hertz|MHz]], allocated in line with the [[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU) [[Radio regulation]]s to the ''aeronautical radionavigation'' service and to the ''radionavigation 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 as [[Internet protocol suite|TCP/IP]] using [[JREAP|MIL-STD 3011 (JREAP)]] or [[SIMPLE (military communications protocol)|STANAG 5602 (SIMPLE)]]. It uses the transmission characteristics and [[Protocol (computing)|protocols]], conventions, and [[TADIL-J|fixed-length]] or [[Variable Message Format|variable length]] message formats defined by MIL-STD 6016 and STANAG 5516 (formerly the [[Joint Tactical Information Distribution System|JTIDS]] technical interface design plan). Information is typically passed at one of three [[data rates]]: 31.6, 57.6, or 115.2 kilobits per second (kbits/s), although the radios and [[frequency-hopping spread spectrum]] (FHSS) waveform itself can support [[throughput]] values well over 1 Mbit/s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viasat.com/products/link-16-mids-lvt1|title=MIDS-LVT Link 16 Tactical Airborne Terminal|website=viasat.com}}</ref>

Link 16 information is primarily coded in [[TADIL-J|J-series messages]] which are [[Binary numeral system|binary]] data words with well-defined meanings. These data words are grouped in ''functional areas'', and allocated to ''network participation groups'' (NPG) (virtual networks), most importantly:
* ''PPLI'', or Precise Participant Location and Identification (network participation groups 5 and 6),
* ''Surveillance'' (network participation group 7),
* ''Command (Mission Management/Weapons Coordination)'' (network participation group 8),
* ''(Aircraft) Control'' (network participation group 9),
* ''Electronic Warfare & Coordination'' (network participation group 10).