Tactical data link
A tactical data link (TDL) uses a data link standard in order to provide communication via radio waves or cable used by the U.S. armed forces and NATO nations. All military C3 systems use standardized TDL to transmit, relay and receive tactical data.
IT technicians study TDL data on a computer terminal (US Naval Network and Space Operations Command) in a June 2004 image
Multi-TDL network (MTN) refers to the network of similar and dissimilar TDLs integrated through gateways, translators, and correlators to bring the common tactical picture and/or common operational picture together.
Change of terminology
The term tactical digital information link (TADIL) was made obsolete (per DISA guidance) and is now more commonly seen as tactical data link (TDL).
Tactical data link character
TDLs are characterized by their standard message and transmission formats. This is usually written as <Message Format>/<Transmission Format>.
TDL standards in NATO
In NATO, tactical data link standards are being developed by the Data Link Working Group (DLWG) of the Information Systems Sub-Committee (ISSC) in line with the appropriate STANAG.
Synopsis of TDL links
In NATO, there exist tactical data link standards as follows:
| Link No | STANAG | Working Title | Final title / description | Communi- cation | Gene- ration | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5501 | NATO data link between Air Defence Main Control Centres |
Link 1 – Tactical Data Exchange for Air Defence |
Point to Point | 1st S–Series |
Ground Link between NADGE entities limited and not secure |
| 2 | Radar to Control Centre Data Link | 1st | Cancelled (includes in Link 1) | |||
| 3 | Control Centre to higher HQ Data Links | SHOC Early Warning System | Point to Point | 1st | Slow Speed Warning Link from evaluation centres to SHAPE | |
| 4 | 5504 | Ground to Air Data Link | Link 4 – TDL for the Control of Military aircraft |
Point to Point | 1st C/R–Series |
Compatible to US TADIL–C to be operated in NATO UHF (225–400 MHz) RF band |
| 5 | Fast HF Automatic Link | Broadcast | 1st | Cancelled (see Link 11) | ||
| 6 | 5506 (Draft) |
Missile Base to Control Centre Link | Link 6 – (NADGE Link) SAM Automatic Data Link |
Point to Point | 1st | Draft STANAG (US MBDL, ATDL–1, PADIL) |
| 7 | 5507 (Draft) |
ATC / Defence Link | Link 7 – TDL for ATC |
Point to Point | 1st | |
| 8 | HF Automatic Link | Broadcast | 1st | Cancelled (see Link 1) | ||
| 9 | SOC / Airbase Link | 1st | ||||
| 10 | 5510 | Ship – Ship Link | Link 10 – Maritime Tactical Data Exchange |
Broadcast | 2nd M–Series |
STANAG cancelled (was used by BE, NL and UK) |
| 11 | 5511 | Fast HF Automatic Link | Link 11 – Maritime Tactical Data Exchange |
Broadcast | 2nd M–Series |
Compatible to US TADIL–A to be operated in the HF & NATO UHF RF bands |
| 11B | 5511 (Vol. II) |
Link 11B – Tactical Data Exchange |
Point to Point | 2nd M–Series |
Compatible to the US TADIL–B Ground to Ground TDL | |
| 12 | Fast HF Automatic Link | Cancelled (see Link 11) | ||||
| 13 | HF Automatic Link | Broadcast | Cancelled (see Link 11) | |||
| 14 | 5514 | Slow Semi–Automatic Link | Link 14 – Maritime TDL |
Broadcast | 1st D/M/S/E–Series |
Ship–Ship & Ship–Shore (only few applications) |
| 15 | Slow Semi–Automatic Link | Ship–Ship, Cancelled | ||||
| 16 | 5516 | High Capacity, ECM Resistant, Multifunctional, TDMA Link | Link 16 – ECM Resistant Tactical Data Exchange |
Broadcast | 3rd J–Series |
Compatible to US TADIL–J (STANAG 4175 – Technical Characteristics of MIDS) |
| 21 | 5521 (Draft) |
Link in support of ACCS – (LISA) | Point to Point | 3rd J–Series |
Under development (planned to replace Link 1 and Link 11B) | |
| 22 | 5522 (Draft) |
NATO Improved Link 11 – (NILE) | Link 22 | 3rd J–Series |
Under development (planned to replace Link 11) | |
| 5601 | Standard for Interface of Data Links 1, 11, 11B, and 14 through a buffer | see AdalP 12 | ||||
| 5602 | Standard Interface for Multiple Platform Link Evaluation (SIMPLE) | Enables transmission of J-Series (TADIL-J) messages over IP-based protocols | ||||
| MIL-STD-6020 | 5616 | Standard for data forwarding between tactical data systems employing Links 11/11B and tactical data systems employing Link 16 | MIL-STD-6020, DoD Interoperability Standard: Data Forwarding between TDLs | |||
| IJMS | ECM Resistant Communication System (ERCS) | IJMS – Interim JTIDS/MIDS Message Specification | Broadcast | 2nd, M–Series | Interim Data Link Standard to be replaced by Link 16 | |
| SADL | Situational Awareness Data Link | SADL – Situational Awareness Data Link | Broadcast | 1st, K-Series 2nd, K/J–Series |
Data link adopted from EPLRS to provide A-10s and F-16s data link capability air-to-ground and air-to-air |
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See also
- BACN
- Global Information Grid
- Inter/Intra Flight Data Link (IFDL)
- JREAP
- MANDRIL
- Multifunction Advanced Data Link
- Network emulation for simulation / emulation of tactical data links
- SIMPLE
- Tactical Common Data Link
External links
- Federation of American Scientists TDL information page
- This article was originally based on public domain text from Army Airspace Command and Control in a Combat Zone, Headquarters, Department of the Army, publication FM 3-52 (FM 100-103), August 2002
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