Editing Link 16

{{Short description|NATO military tactical data exchange network}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}

'''Link 16''' is a [[military]] [[tactical data link]] network used by NATO members and other nations, as allowed by the [[Multifunctional Information Distribution System|MIDS]] International Program Office (IPO). Its [[Technical standard|specification]] is part of the family of Tactical Data Links.

Link 16 enables [[military 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&nbsp;[[kbit/s]] or 16&nbsp;kbit/s in any combination). It is one of the digital services of the [[JTIDS]] / [[Multifunctional Information Distribution System|MIDS]] in NATO's ''[[Standardization Agreement]]'' STANAG 5516. MIL-STD-6016 is the related [[United States Department of Defense]] Link 16 [[MIL-STD]].

== 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).

== Development ==
Link 16 is intended to advance [[Tactical data link|Tactical Data Link]]s (TDLs) as the NATO standard for [[data link]] information exchange. Link 16 equipment is located in ground, airborne, and sea-based [[Anti-aircraft warfare|air defense]] platforms and selected [[fighter aircraft]]. The U.S. industry is now developing a new Link 16 SCA compliant radio [[Joint Tactical Radio System|MIDS-JTRS]] which currently is projected to implement nine various tactical waveforms, including Link 16.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

The [[Multifunctional Information Distribution System|MIDS]] program, which manage the development of the communication component for Link 16, is managed by the International Program Office located in [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], [[California]]. In the United States, the lead Air Force command for the [[MIL-STD-6016]] standard, plans, and requirements is the [[Air Force Global Cyberspace Integration Center]] at [[Langley AFB]], with JTIDS program execution managed by the [[653d Electronic Systems Wing]] at [[Hanscom Air Force Base]] near [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. The MIL-STD-6016 Standard [[configuration management]] custodian is the [[Defense Information Systems Agency]].

== Platforms ==
Some examples of platforms currently using the Link 16 capability are:

=== Aircraft ===
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}

* [[Bell AH-1Z Viper|AH-1Z Viper]]
* [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|AH-64E Apache]]
* [[ATR 72#ATR 72MP|ATR 72MP]]
* [[B-1B Lancer]]
* [[B-2 Spirit]]
* [[C-130J]]
* [[EADS CASA C-295|C-295 MPA/Persuader]]
* [[E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C Hawkeye]]
* [[E-3 Sentry]]
* [[E-7A Wedgetail]]
* [[E-8 Joint STARS]]
* [[EA-6B Prowler]]
* [[EA-18G Growler]]
* [[Lockheed EP-3|EP-3E]]
* [[Embraer C-390 Millennium]]
* [[Eurocopter Tiger]]
* [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]
* [[F-15 Eagle]]
* [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]]
* [[F/A-18 Hornet]]
* [[F/A-18 Super Hornet]]
* [[F-22 Raptor]]
* [[F-35 Lightning II]]
* [[HH-60W]]
* [[Saab JAS 39 Gripen|JAS 39 Gripen]]
* [[Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite]]
* [[KC-135]]
* [[Airbus A330 MRTT|KC-30A MRTT]]
* [[Boeing KC-46 Pegasus|KC-46]]
* [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk#MH-60R|MH-60S/R Seahawk]]
* [[Dassault Mirage 2000D|Mirage 2000D]]
* [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]]
* [[P-3C Orion]]
* [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|P-8A Poseidon]]
* [[Dassault Rafale|Rafale]] 
* [[Embraer R-99|R-99]]
* [[Boeing RC-135|RC-135 Rivet Joint]]
* [[Saab 340 AEW&C|S 100B Argus]]
* [[Westland Sea King#Airborne early warning|Sea King Mk 7 ASaC]]
* [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado]]
{{Div col end}}

=== Ships ===
* [[USN]] [[carrier strike group]]s and [[expeditionary strike group]]s, as well as all surface combat ships, command ships and amphibious warfare vessels
* [[French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle|French aircraft carrier ''Charles de Gaulle'' (R91)]]
* [[Italian aircraft carrier Cavour|Italian aircraft carrier ''Cavour'' (550)]] and [[Italian landing helicopter dock Trieste |''Trieste'' (551)]]
* Royal Navy, Canadian, Australian, French, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, New Zealand and German [[frigate]]s
* German K130 [[Braunschweig-class corvette|''Braunschweig''-class corvette]]
* Swedish [[Visby-class corvette|''Visby''-class corvette]]
* Finnish [[Hämeenmaa-class minelayer|''Hämeenmaa''-class minelayer]] 
* Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force [[Akizuki-class destroyer (2010)|''Akizuki''-class]], [[Kongō-class destroyer|''Kongō''-class destroyer]]
* Republic of Korea Navy [[Sejong the Great-class destroyer|''Sejong the Great''-class]]
* [[Republic of China Navy|Taiwanese]] [[Kidd-class destroyer|Kee Lung Class Destroyers]]
* Turkish [[MILGEM project|MILGEM frigates]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milsoft.com.tr/milgem_cavlis.php|title=MilSOFT - Products/Projects - Data Links and Messaging Systems|access-date=2016-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081824/http://www.milsoft.com.tr/milgem_cavlis.php|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[TF-2000-class destroyer]], [[TCG Anadolu]]

=== Missile defense systems ===
* [[Arrow (Israeli missile)|Arrow]]
* [[Aster (missile family)|SAMP/T]]
* [[MIM-104 Patriot|Patriot ICC and Battery Command Post (BCP)]]
* [[Terminal High Altitude Area Defense|THAAD]]
* [[Joint Tactical Ground Station|JTAGS]]
* [[NASAMS]]
* Joint Land Attack/Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensors ([[JLENS]])

=== Networked weapons ===
* [[GBU-53/B|SDB II]]
* [[AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon|JSOW-C1]]

=== Command and control ===
* [[Joint Data Network]]

The U.S. Army is integrating Link 16 into select [[command and control]] elements of its [[UH-60 Black Hawk]] fleet,{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} and intends to pursue fielding to AH-64 Apache and other aviation assets.

The [[United States Air Force|USAF]] will add Link 16 to its [[Rockwell B-1 Lancer]] and [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress]] bombers with the Common Link Integration Processing system.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2010/10/mil-101021-northrop-grumman01.htm Northrop Grumman Awarded Air Force Contract to Integrate CLIP on B-1B and B-52 Aircraft] [[Northrop Grumman]] press release, 21 October 2010</ref> Early versions of the [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor]] could only receive but not transmit Link 16 data,<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Aviation Week|title=Inside The Cockpit: Flying The F-22 Against Islamic State In Syria|first=Lara|last=Seligman|date=May 23, 2017|access-date=May 30, 2017|url=http://aviationweek.com/defense/inside-cockpit-flying-f-22-against-islamic-state-syria?NL=AW-05&Issue=AW-05_20170530_AW-05_846&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1&elq2=474c12f1b3a84d5b904d8512e547b4a7|quote=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.}}</ref> on the basis that transmitting data would reveal its location.<ref>{{citation|title=F22 Raptor absent from Libya ops|newspaper=Air force times|date=March 2011 |url=http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/03/defense-f22-raptor-absent-from-libya-ops-032211/}}</ref> Upgrades to the F-22 have since given it the ability to transmit Link 16 as well.<ref name= keyAero >Amiga500 [https://www.key.aero/forum/modern-military-aviation/132143-so-the-f-22-uses-link-16 (26 Feb 2014) Lockheed validated the use of Link 16 transmit capability on F-22]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Network simulation|Network simulator]] for simulation of military radios and tactical data links
* [[Air Force Command and Control Integration Center]] lead Air Force command for MIL-STD-6016 standard and plans/programs
* [[653d Electronic Systems Wing]] JTIDS program execution
* [[JREAP]] Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol
* [[Link 22]] a similar scheme designed to complement and interoperate with Link 16, originally developed as a system to replace [[Link 11]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/6-24-8/tadilj.pdf TADIL J guide]
* [https://www.af.mil/ USAF GCIC Homepage]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070208061647/http://www.hanscom.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5506 653rd Electronic Systems Wing Homepage]
{{refend}}

[[Category:Military radio systems]]