Cooperative tactical operations using a data link

The benefits and operational advantages of using a data link to exchange battle plans and apply cooperative tactics are discussed. Advantages that a data link provides are increased situational awareness, cooperative missile launches, flexible formation flying, and potentially cooperative application of electronic countermeasures. The data link requirements to support such tactical operations are presented, and are shown to be critically dependent on the ability to exchange target tracking data between aircraft. Most advanced fighter studies and projects include some concept of cooperative functions using an intraflight data link. This link is assumed to be covert and unjammable. A number of cooperative concepts and their data transfer requirements are examined. These functions are organized into three categories: situation awareness, offensive functions, and defensive functions