Link 22

Link 22 is a secure digital radio link in the HF and UHF bands, primarily used by military forces as a tactical data link.

During the late 1980s, NATO, agreeing on the need to improve the performance of Link 11, produced a mission need statement that became the basis for the establishment of the NATO Improved Link Eleven (NILE) Program. This program specified a new tactical message standard in the NATO STANdardization AGreement (STANAG) 5522 to enhance data exchange and provide a new layered communications architecture. This new data link was designated Link 22 by NATO.

The NILE program is funded and collaboratively conducted by seven nations under the aegis of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU).

A steering committee controls the complete NILE program. The program is managed by the Project Management Office (PMO), located at the Space and Naval Warfare Command (SPAWAR)'s Program Management Warfare (PMW) 150 in San Diego, California. The PMO consists of a representative from each participating nation and a Project Manager from the US.

The Link 22 goals are

From 2007 to 2009 NILE nation Germany contracted German industry to enhance performance and tactical capabilities for Link 22 HF fixed frequency (FF) operation. Three goals were achieved:

In 2012 Germany submitted the new HF-FF technology to NATO and NILE program, for ratification and adoption respectively. In 2015 the NILE program approved the adoption of the new HF-FF technology, with full support anticipated for 2016.

The Link 22 system is centered around its core component, the System Network Controller (SNC). This software exists as a single implementation, produced by the NILE PMO and owned by the NILE nations. To ensure compatibility across Link 22 implementations, all participants must use this SNC software. Each implementing nation will acquire this software and will implement it in a hardware environment suitable for its own application. Therefor the SNC is not available as a commercial product, and is supplied by NILE PMO to NILE agreed Third-Party Sales nations with an annual maintenance fee.

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