Tactical data link


A tactical data link 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.
Multi-TDL network 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 was made obsolete and is now more commonly seen as tactical data link .

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 of the Information Systems Sub-Committee in line with the appropriate STANAG.

Synopsis of TDL links

In NATO, there exist tactical data link standards as follows:
Link
No		STANAGWorking TitleFinal title / descriptionCommuni-
cation		Gene-
ration		Comments
15501NATO data link between
Air Defence Main Control Centres		Link 1 –
Tactical Data Exchange for Air Defence		Point to Point1st
S–Series		Ground Link between NADGE entities limited and not secure
2Radar to Control Centre Data Link1stCancelled
3Control Centre to higher HQ Data LinksSHOC Early Warning SystemPoint to Point1stSlow Speed Warning Link from evaluation centres to SHAPE
45504Ground to Air Data LinkLink 4 –
TDL for the Control of Military aircraft		Point to Point1st
C/R–Series		Compatible to US TADIL–C to be operated in NATO UHF RF band
5Fast HF Automatic LinkBroadcast1stCancelled
65506
Missile Base to Control Centre LinkLink 6 –
SAM Automatic Data Link		Point to Point1stDraft STANAG
75507
ATC / Defence LinkLink 7 –
TDL for ATC		Point to Point1st
8HF Automatic LinkBroadcast1stCancelled
9SOC / Airbase Link1st
105510Ship – Ship LinkLink 10 – Maritime
Tactical Data Exchange		Broadcast2nd
M–Series		STANAG cancelled
115511Fast HF Automatic LinkLink 11 –
Maritime Tactical Data Exchange		Broadcast2nd
M–Series		Compatible to US TADIL–A to be operated in the HF & NATO UHF RF bands
11B5511
Link 11B –
Tactical Data Exchange		Point to Point2nd
M–Series		Compatible to the US TADIL–B Ground to Ground TDL
12Fast HF Automatic LinkCancelled
13HF Automatic LinkBroadcastCancelled
145514Slow Semi–Automatic LinkLink 14 –
Maritime TDL		Broadcast1st
D/M/S/E–Series		Ship–Ship & Ship–Shore
15Slow Semi–Automatic LinkShip–Ship, Cancelled
165516High Capacity, ECM Resistant, Multifunctional, TDMA LinkLink 16 –
ECM Resistant Tactical Data Exchange		Broadcast3rd
J–Series		Compatible to US TADIL–J
215521
Link in support of ACCS – Point to Point3rd
J–Series		Under development
225522
NATO Improved Link 11 – Link 223rd
J–Series		Under development
5601Standard for Interface of Data Links 1, 11, 11B, and 14 through a buffersee AdalP 12
5602Standard Interface for Multiple Platform Link Evaluation Enables transmission of J-Series messages over IP-based protocols
MIL-STD-60205616Standard for data forwarding between tactical data systems employing Links 11/11B and tactical data systems employing Link 16MIL-STD-6020, DoD Interoperability Standard: Data Forwarding between TDLs
IJMSECM Resistant Communication System IJMS – Interim JTIDS/MIDS Message SpecificationBroadcast2nd, M–SeriesInterim Data Link Standard to be replaced by Link 16
SADLSituational Awareness Data LinkSADL – Situational Awareness Data LinkBroadcast1st, 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