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Link 16 is a military inter-computer data exchange format of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The US armed forces synonym for Link 16 is TADIL-J.

With Link 16, military aircraft as well as ships and army units may exchange their tactical picture in real time. Link 16 is defined as one of the digital services of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) in the Standardization Agreement STANAG 5516.

It is a secure, high-speed digital data link. It uses the transmission characteristics and protocols, conventions, and fixed-length message formats defined by the JTIDS technical interface design plan. TADIL-J is intended to replace or augment many existing TADILs as the joint standard for data link information exchange. Information is passed at one of four data rates: 26.88, 53.76 or 107.52 and 238 kilobits per second. TADIL-J devices will be located in ground, airborne, and sea-based air defense platforms and selected fighter aircraft.

Link 16 information is coded in so called J.-series messages, i.e. binary data words with well-defined meanings. These data words are grouped in functional areas, and allocated to network participation groups (virtual networks), most importantly:

• PPLI (network participation groups 5 and 6),
• Surveillance (network participation group 7),
• Command (network participation group 8),
• (Aircraft) Control (network participation group 9)
• Electronic Warfare & Coordination (network participation group 10).

The main platforms using the Link 16 capability are : F/A 18, F16, Typhoon, Rafale, Tornado, French, Spanish and German Frigates, Awacs...

The MIDS program is managed by the International Program Office located in San Diego (CA). The JTIDS program is managed by the 653rd ELSG in Boston (MA).

In parallel, the US Industry is now developing a new Link-16 SCA compliant radio "MIDS-JTRS" : 4 channels including one Link 16 channel.

Tactical Digital Information Link