Link 22 Developments: February 17-23, 2025

Executive Summary: Recent advancements in Link 22 have significantly enhanced secure military communications through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and strategic defense partnerships. These developments underscore Link 22’s critical role in modern military operations, ensuring robust situational awareness and operational efficiency. Key industry players continue to support these advancements through active participation in testing, standardization, and international defense collaborations.

Advancements in Secure Military Communications

Link 22, a NATO secure digital radio system, has continued to evolve, offering beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) capabilities that interconnect air, surface, subsurface, and ground-based tactical data systems. Recent updates have focused on enhancing interoperability and security, ensuring that Link 22 remains a robust and reliable communication tool for NATO and allied forces. The system’s ability to exchange data, such as radar tracking information, is crucial for joint and coalition operations.

Source: Link 22 Weekly News

Integration of New Technologies

Recent technological advancements in Link 22 have focused on improving its anti-jamming capabilities and command efficiency. The system now supports faster communication transmissions, which are essential for real-time decision-making in complex operational environments. These enhancements are part of a broader effort to integrate next-generation hardware and software architectures, including software-defined radio and modem technologies.

Source: Military Embedded Systems

Defense Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives

Link 22 developments have been bolstered by strategic defense partnerships, which have facilitated enhanced interoperability and expanded support from defense contractors. These efforts underscore Link 22’s critical role in modern military operations, ensuring robust situational awareness and operational efficiency. Key industry players continue to support these developments through active participation in testing, standardization, and international defense collaborations.

Source: Defense Advancement

News from Defense Contractors

Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions has announced Link 22 support for its proven suite of Tactical Data Link (TDL) solutions to deliver greater interoperability and capability to the US military and coalition partners. The new Link 22 capability is now available with Curtiss-Wright’s TCG LinkPRO Tactical Data Link Processing Software, TCG Ground Tactical Data Link System, and TCG Battlefield Operations Support System TDL testing and platform integration solution.

Source: Defense Advancement

Training, Military Exercises, and Industry Conferences

Link 22’s integration into training and simulation tools has been emphasized, with Curtiss-Wright offering best-in-class simulation and training tools to the Link 22 community. This integration is crucial for ensuring that military personnel are well-prepared to utilize Link 22 capabilities in operational settings.

Source: Defense Advancement

Link 22 Developments: February 2025

Executive Summary: Recent advancements in Link 22 have significantly enhanced secure military communications through improved interoperability and integration with cutting-edge technologies. Strategic defense partnerships and initiatives have been bolstered, with key industry players actively participating in testing and international collaborations. These developments ensure robust situational awareness and operational capacity across various military domains.

Advancements in Secure Military Communications

Link 22, a NATO secure digital radio system, continues to evolve as a critical component in military communications. The system provides beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) capabilities in the HF and UHF bands, enabling seamless data exchange across air, surface, subsurface, and ground-based tactical systems. Recent updates have focused on enhancing interoperability and expanding the system’s operational scope, which is crucial for joint and coalition operations. These enhancements ensure reliable connectivity even in challenging radio frequency conditions, thereby maintaining operational capacity and supporting mission success.

Advanced coding and modulation techniques have been employed to improve the system’s robustness in poor radio frequency conditions. This ensures reliable connectivity even when traditional communication methods might fail, thereby maintaining operational capacity and supporting mission success.

Integration of New Technologies

Recent developments have focused on integrating Link 22 with cutting-edge technologies to enhance its functionality. The system now supports interoperability across various military platforms, including sea, air, and land domains. This integration facilitates the exchange of tactical data and access to the Electronic Warfare domain, Command & Control orders, and Free Text, significantly improving situational awareness and operational coordination.

Leonardo DRS has successfully completed formal interoperability testing of its Link-22 Signal Processing Controller (SPC) within the NATO Improved Link Eleven (NILE) Link-22 Network. This success illustrates that Leonardo DRS SPCs are compliant with Link-22 Block Cycle 9 specifications for current and emerging mission requirements for users around the world.

Defense Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives

SCYTALYS S.A. has secured two contracts to provide Link-22 connectivity and In-Service support for Canada’s TIC3 Air Project (LoE 4). These contracts, valued at approximately USD $9.7 million, mark a pivotal step in enhancing Canada’s tactical data link capabilities and supporting a Recognized Air Picture (RAP) through the modern Link-22 networks. The project includes the integration of a new and secure deployable Link-22 TDL system with present, as well as new infrastructure and networks.

During the RIMPAC exercise, Link 22 successfully connected ten platforms across seven nations, demonstrating the effectiveness of Link 22 and the NILE Technical Team’s role in advancing tactical communication. This achievement marked a substantial leap forward from the Link 22 connections made during RIMPAC 2022.

News from Defense Contractors and Industry Conferences

Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions has announced Link 22 support for its proven suite of Tactical Data Link (TDL) solutions to deliver greater interoperability and capability to the US military and coalition partners. The new Link 22 capability is now available with Curtiss-Wright’s TCG LinkPRO Tactical Data Link Processing Software, TCG Ground Tactical Data Link System, and TCG Battlefield Operations Support System TDL testing and platform integration solution.

Leonardo DRS’ Link-22 SPC solution is well-positioned for current missions and is primed to accept additional missions due to its spare memory and additional processing power. Utilizing next-generation hardware and software architecture, coupled with software-defined radio and software-defined modem technologies, the company is able to offer enhanced capabilities while retaining look, feel, and operational reliability.

Sources

• Link 22 Developments
• Defense Advancement
• DVIDS Hub
• Defense Arabia

Link 22 Developments: February 2025

Executive Summary: Recent advancements in Link 22 have significantly enhanced secure military communications, focusing on interoperability and beyond-line-of-sight capabilities. Integration with new technologies and strategic defense partnerships have been pivotal in these developments. Key industry players have actively participated in testing and standardization efforts, furthering the system’s operational effectiveness.

Advancements in Secure Military Communications

Link 22, a secure digital radio system, has seen substantial improvements aimed at enhancing tactical data exchange among military units. The system operates in the HF and UHF bands and has been optimized to maintain robust connectivity even in challenging radio frequency conditions. Advanced coding and modulation techniques have been employed to ensure reliable communication, thereby supporting mission success and operational capacity.

Source: Link22.net

Integration of New Technologies

Recent developments have focused on integrating Link 22 with cutting-edge technologies to enhance its functionality. The system now supports interoperability across various military platforms, including sea, air, and land domains. This integration facilitates the exchange of tactical data and access to the Electronic Warfare domain, Command & Control orders, and Free Text, significantly improving situational awareness and operational coordination.

Source: Military Embedded Systems

Defense Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives

Link 22’s development has been bolstered by strategic defense partnerships and international collaborations. The system’s deployment during the RIMPAC exercise demonstrated its capability to connect multiple platforms across seven nations, showcasing its interoperability and effectiveness in joint military operations. This success underscores the growing importance of Link 22 in global defense strategies.

Source: DVIDS Hub

News from Defense Contractors

Defense contractors have played a crucial role in advancing Link 22 technologies. Companies like Northrop Grumman have been involved in upgrading tactical data link processors to support Link 22 integration, addressing obsolescence issues, and enhancing system capabilities. These efforts are part of broader initiatives to provide innovative and affordable solutions for military communications.

Source: Naval Technology

Training, Military Exercises, and Industry Conferences

Link 22 has been extensively tested in real-world environments, with significant contributions from industry leaders during international exercises. These tests have demonstrated the system’s ability to transmit real radar data over tactical data links, enhancing military operations. Industry conferences continue to serve as platforms for discussing advancements and strategic initiatives related to Link 22, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Source: Link22.net

Link 22 Developments: January 27, 2025 – February 02, 2025

Executive Summary: Recent advancements in Link 22 have significantly bolstered secure military communications through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and strategic defense partnerships. These developments underscore Link 22’s critical role in modern military operations, ensuring robust situational awareness and operational efficiency. Key industry players continue to support these advancements through active participation in testing, standardization, and international defense collaborations.

Advancements in Secure Military Communications

Link 22, a secure digital radio system, continues to evolve as a pivotal component in military communications, offering beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) capabilities that interconnect air, surface, subsurface, and ground-based tactical data systems. Recent updates have focused on enhancing interoperability and security, ensuring that Link 22 remains a robust and reliable communication tool for NATO and allied forces. The system’s ability to exchange data, such as radar tracking information, is crucial for joint and coalition operations.

Source: Link 22 Developments

Integration of New Technologies

Recent technological advancements in Link 22 have focused on improving its anti-jamming capabilities and command efficiency. The system now supports faster communication transmissions, which are essential for real-time decision-making in complex operational environments. These enhancements are part of a broader effort to integrate next-generation hardware and software architectures, including software-defined radio and modem technologies.

Source: Military Embedded Systems

Defense Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives

The Link 22 program, initially developed by seven NATO countries, continues to expand its reach through strategic partnerships and collaborations. The program’s goals include replacing the older Link 11 system, improving allied interoperability, and complementing Link 16. These efforts are supported by active participation from defense contractors like Rohde & Schwarz, who contribute to the optimization and standardization of Link 22 through international conferences and workshops.

Source: Rohde & Schwarz

News from Defense Contractors

Rohde & Schwarz has been instrumental in the development and testing of Link 22, ensuring compatibility with various modem types and supporting upgrades for existing radio systems. Their collaboration with TELEFUNKEN RACOMS has led to the development of official NILE interfaces for UHF radios, further enhancing the system’s capabilities. Additionally, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions has announced Link 22 support for its suite of Tactical Data Link solutions, enhancing interoperability and capability for the US military and coalition partners.

Source: Defense Advancement

Training, Military Exercises, and Industry Conferences

Link 22 has been tested extensively in real-world environments, with significant contributions from industry leaders in various international exercises. These tests have demonstrated the system’s ability to transmit real radar data over tactical data links, showcasing its potential in enhancing military operations. Additionally, industry conferences continue to serve as platforms for discussing advancements and strategic initiatives related to Link 22.

Source: Rohde & Schwarz