Link 22: Important TDL Working Seamlessly With Link 16
While Link 16 is still the primary tactical data link (TDL) for the DoD and NATO allies, the newer Link 22 also provides benefits.
In fact, Link 22 provides a secure, electronic countermeasures-resistant capability for air, surface, subsurface, and ground-based systems to exchange tactical data utilizing both high frequency (HF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF) media paths.
?The ability to use HF provides a BLOS advantage over Link 16. Better yet, Link 22 has been designed with a data exchange message set that works seamlessly with Link 16. These messages are known as F and FJ-Series. While F-Series messages are newly defined for Link 22, FJ-Series are in simple terms a ‘cut and paste’ of a Link 16 J-Series message.
Initially, Link 22 was primarily designed as a maritime capability to support BLOS operations (Although, it’s operations have since expanded). It enables deployed assets to perform a variety of Information Exchange Requirements (IERs) without the need for satellites. Those IERs involve the exchange of situational awareness (SA).
The use and connectivity of deployed assets utilizing the HF media path is vulnerable to change. To combat this, Link 22 has more robust waveforms whereby in poor radio frequency (RF) conditions improved coding and modulation is used to maintain connectivity at the expense of throughput.
Analysts point out that?like many TDLs, there is always a trade-off. If RF conditions become too bad, this will undoubtedly affect the operational capacity and, as a consequence, impact the warfighter’s ability to achieve their mission.
The Link 22 program was initially conducted collaboratively by seven nations under the aegis of a?memorandum of understanding?(MOU). The original seven nations were Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the?Netherlands, the?United Kingdom?(UK), and the?United States?(US), with the US acting as the host nation.?Spain?has replaced the Netherlands as a NILE (NATO Improved Link Eleven) nation.
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From the outset, the goals of Link 22 have been multi-pronged, such as:
Link 22 is a secure beyond-line-of-sight communication capability?that increases joint and coalition communications in the surface, sub-surface, land, and air domains by providing unprecedented situational awareness across the battle space.
Want to learn more? Tonex offer Link 22 Training, a 2-day course that covers the latest technology attempts to use?COTS products.
Learn how Link 22 provides a simple-to-use functions that require minimal operator interaction, enhances tactical data link capabilities and functions as an excellent stand-alone tactical data link?that can interwork with?Link 16.
This course benefits managers, and procurers to get executive-level information; planners, operators, and technicians to gain user-level and operational information (ConOps); any other technical professionals to get technical-level information.
For more information, questions, comments,?contact us.