Link 16 networking communications enables F-22 jet fighter to share data with surrounding combat aircraft
WASHINGTON – Often referred to as an aerial quarterback, the U.S. F-22 Raptor is designed as a first-look, first-shot, first-kill kind of jet fighter necessary to establish a safe air corridor for less-stealthy and maneuverable aircraft to attack. Kris Osborn of The National Interest reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
15 June 2020 -- Now, the stealth fighter will have a safer and more direct way to transmit intelligence data, video-sharing, targeting information and other combat essential communication through Link 16 data exchange enabling non-radio or voice connectivity between aircraft in war.
Link 16, an established and well known datalink, will enable an F-22 to receive and ultimately send information to F-35s, F-16s, F-15s and others without needing to rely upon voice communication. One senior Lockheed official explained it by saying that Link 16 can ensure warfare networking between attacking aircraft in the event that radio encryption was hacked, disabled or somehow compromised by an enemy.
This means that if a forward-operating F-22 encountered 5th-gen enemy fighters or advanced air defenses, yet in an environment without radio communication, the pilot would still be able to send warning information and even sensor data to other aircraft potentially moving toward a lethal encounter.
Related: Air Force eyes next-generation tactical data links gateway for jet fighter communications
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
