Link 16

Link 16 is a military tactical data link network used by NATO members and other nations, as allowed by the MIDS International Program Office (IPO). Its specification is part of the family of Tactical Data Links.

Link 16 enables military aircraft, ships, and ground forces to exchange their tactical picture in near-real time; it also supports the exchange of text messages, imagery, and voice (the latter on two digital channels: 2.4 kbit/s or 16 kbit/s in any combination). It is one of the digital services of the JTIDS / MIDS in NATO's Standardization Agreement STANAG 5516. MIL-STD-6016 is the related United States Department of Defense Link 16 MIL-STD.