What is Link 16?
Link 16 is a network of encrypted, jam-resistant Tactical Data Links (TDLs) that enable secure and reliable interconnection between military platforms such as aircraft, ships, ground vehicles, and allied tender units to create situational awareness among dispersed combat forces by exchanging critical information, position data, command orders, imagery, and other intelligence over a common, secure communication link. This enables command and control centers to create a Common Operating Picture (COP), allowing allied forces to electronically observe the theater of operations, identify threats, and acquire targets.
Link 16 is key to effective coordination in complex military operations, supporting multiple message types, managing hundreds of nodes simultaneously, and enabling a shared tactical vision in real time.
