Link-16 enhances Viper might

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kristin Haley
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Luke F-16 Block 42 are currently in the middle of a two-year upgrade process called Common Configuration Implementation Program. The jets receive a hardware and avionics upgrade which will eventually bring block 40 and 50 aircraft into a common configuration and give them the capability to use Link-16, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System and advanced weapons.

According to Capt. Jeff Simmons, 56th Operations Support Squadron Link- 16 program manager, the most current and significant of the upgrades is the battlefield network capability, otherwise known as Link-16. "This provides a secure and jam resistant data link between friendly coalition ground and air forces, such as F-15s, British Tornados, Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System and Air Force Joint Terminal Air Controllers working along side Army ground units," he said.

At a tactical level, Link- 16 will give the individualfighter pilot a huge advantage over current capabilities. Fighter aircraft can share radar data with each other, which provides the flight lead additional situational awareness on threats he or she is not targeted to or unable to see due to radar limitations. "This is a significant upgrade for us," Captain Simmons said. "Our fighter pilots will increase lethality and survivability by maintaining the big picture on enemy air and ground threats that we may not otherwise see with the radar or targeting pod."

The Link-16 also gives pilots a God's eye view of the battlefield. "Link-16 technology displays a wire frame image of an area up to 240 miles away include various color-coded symbols that represent friend or foe," said Captain Simmons. He explained that when the pilot locks on a target, that data can be sent to all the other pilots so they are able to share the same target info.

At a strategic level, this allows the capability for command and control elements, such as Airborne Warning and Control System and air traffic control, to see both friendly force locations and status as well as sending time-critical mission tasking via the data link.

This reduces the amount of time talking on busy radio frequencies and provides the ability to send mission taskings regardless of what frequency the tasked fighters are working on, said Maj. Anthony Mulhare, 56th Training Squadron CCIP program manager. Air-to-air threats, surface-to-air missile systems, ground units and even naval units can be displayed. Based on all of the sensors now tied into Link-16, AWACS or ATC have the ability to update or upgrade these symbols based on real-time information, said Major Mulhare.

CCIP aircraft can operate Link-16 without a command and control element. However to aid in training to the real world capabilities, Luke recently received a Link-16 ground station. "This will now give CCIP aircraft the capability to tie in, or "link up", with other ground and air agencies such as the 607th Air Control Squadron, 107th ACS and Western Air Defense Sector to provide the command and control ground control intercept element into training," said Captain Simmons. Not only is this used for better air-to-air training, it also displays local civilian air traffic to the pilots, which will increase flight safety and situational awareness, he added.

Luke pilots will begin to fly the helmet-mounted cueing system next spring. This system will allow the pilot to see all of the aircraft information such as airspeed, altitude and heading anywhere the pilot looks. Additionally, the pilot will be able to see Link-16 information such as aircraft and target locations that are normally only displayed in the cockpit. "This provides the ability to cue the radar, targeting pod and munitions, such as the AIM-9X, by just looking directly at it through the HMCS. It gives the fighter pilot an enhanced first-look, first-shoot and first-kill advantage in the air-to-air and air-to-ground battlefields," said Captain Simmons.

According to Major Mulhare, the 308th Fighter Squadron will implement the first CCIP/Link-16 for B-course students in October, which will be the first time students are exposed to Link-16 as it's incorporated into their syllabus. "It's an enormous advancement in training fighter pilots," Major Mulhare said. "We're going to expose students to what they're going to see in the combat Air Force." Additionally, the 56th TRS has been hard at work for the last year updating student courseware, academics, the syllabus and the simulators to support CCIP and Link-16 operations as the 56th Maintenance Group has been training avionics technicians and scheduling depot runs for each aircraft as it spends six months at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, for the modification, he said.