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In Detail ——  IMP – the CF18 Incremental Modernization Program ——

by Allan Ng M.Eng., P.Eng.

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Canadian Defence Procurement  –  December 2003 The CF18 Incremental Modernization Program  –  In Detail Allan Ng reviews DND's CF18 fighter aircraft modernization plan  (Part 6) Follow-Ons to the Engineering Change Proposal 583  –  Link 16  [1] Link 16 is an inter-service data link system serving very large numbers of users on one single network. The Link 16 system provides each user with secure communications, navigation, identification, and data exchange.  A Link 16 net is frequency-hopping and jam- resistant. Maximum range between participants in the system is 550-to-900km.  All that is necessary for a new user to join the network, is to have a  Link 16-compatible terminal.  As each new user joins the network, their on-board sensor data contributes to the stream of information available to all of the users on the Link 16 system. This represents a major advance in the situational awareness of fighter pilots. An Eye in the Sky —  the Link 16 Data Link Before the Link 16 system, fighter pilots were limited in their ability to detect an adversary. They relied upon their own on-board sensors or help from ground or airborne controllers – usually relayed by voice. Now the sensors of all of the Link 16-equipped fighters, AWACS aircraft, and ground-based radar are fused together in a single integrated display. Each Link 16 user will have an unparalleled awareness of their environment. And, this will include other aircraft in a formation. Link 16 will allow CF18 flight-leaders to know instantly the location, altitude, speed, and weapon or fuel status of wing- mates. At the same time, the positions of aircraft known to the system  –  neutral, enemy, or unknown  –  as well as their altitudes and velocities can be displayed. Tactically, a Link 16 system  –  depending on where contributing network users are positioned  –  allows the pilots to be aware of what is happening in 360°s of airspace around them. This capability goes a long way towards eliminating a key tactical disadvantage of forward-facing fighter radar.  The Link 16 system may very well revolutionize air-to-air combat tactics. The integration of Link 16 has been slow – even in the US where the system was developed. But, the pace of integration has sped up dramatically since September 11 2001 since Link 16 is seen as the potential solution to the problems of locating the fleeting, highly-mobile targets anticipated in the "War on Terrorism".  NATO has since standardized on the Link 16 system. Its integration into the modernized CF18 will, therefore, be essential to maintain interoperability with Canada's allies.