Link 16 Systems Engineering Training Course

Link 16 Systems Engineering Training Course

Link 16 Systems Engineering Training Course: Translate operational requirements into interfaces, ICDs, verification methods, and integration plans across avionics, ground, and maritime platforms. Use engineering tools to manage latency budgets, EMI/EMC risks, and message throughput.

Cybersecurity is integrated into requirements, design reviews, and test acceptance, ensuring secure boot, access control, and logging are part of the baseline. Embedding cybersecurity early reduces retrofit costs and closes attack paths before fielding.

Link 16 Systems Engineering Course is TONEX’s  popular 2-day Link 16 Systems Engineering training course.

Link 16 Systems Engineering course is designed for professionals who perform, manage, control or specify the development of Link 16 and TDL technology-based systems including:

• Project managers
• Product managers
• Project directors
• Systems engineers
• Business analyst
• Link 16 Systems analyst
• Link 16 System architect
• Link 16 and TDL Operation
• Software systems engineer
• Software engineer
• Design engineer
• Hardware engineer
• Project engineer
• Cyber Security Analysts
• Other engineering and operational job titles

Link 16 Systems Engineering Training Objective

Upon completion of Link 16 Systems Engineering Training course, attendees will:

• List systems engineering concepts, process principles and elements
• Explain the building blocks  of systems engineering
• Explain the overall TDL and Link 16 concepts
• Illustrate Link 16 system concepts
• Explain Link 16 Systems Engineering Processes: Principles, Concepts and Elements
• Write and evaluate Link 16 and TDL requirements analysis
• Link 16 system life cycle and solution development
• List techniques of TDL and Link 16 ConOps, system requirements analysis, design, development, V&V and operation
• Describe Link 16 development of physical solution
• Explore DoDAF architectural frameworks in modeling Link 16 and TDL
• Describe Link 16 system integration, verification and validation (V&V)
• Plan and secure  Link 16 operational networks
• Operate Link 16 networks

Course Topics and Modules

Introduction to Link 16 Systems

• Overview of Tactical Data Links
• Link 16 Networks
• Principles of Link 16 Systems
• General Link 16 System Characteristics
• Link 16 Terminals
• Terminal Types
• Interface Specifications
• Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS)
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Link 16
• Data Message Packing Structures Formats
• Message and Purpose
• J-series Word, Data Element, and Data Item Minimum

Link 16 / MIDS Terminals and Radios

• Link 16 / MIDS Terminals and Radios
• NSA Certification
• Software-Defined, Multi-Channel Radios for Air, Land, and Sea Platforms
• MIDS LVT Terminal Family
• MIDS FDL
• MIDS JTRS
• Terminal size, weight, and power
• Dual-channel radio
• Handheld Link 16 Radio

Link 16 System Design and Engineering

• Tactical data link lifecycle
• Link 16 lifecycle
• Link 16 Features and Physical Footprint
• Link 16 Functional Minimum Implementation
• Link 16 System Architecture
• Link 16 Minimum Implementation
• Link 16 Software and Hardware Requirements
• Link 16 Software and Hardware Design and Implementation
• Link 16 and VHF/UHF waveforms
• Link 16 RF Engineering
• Carrier Frequencies
• Antenna Design
• Narrowband VHF/UHF vs. wideband UHF
• MIDS Waveform (Continuous Phase Shift Modulation)
• Transmission Signal Generation
• Principles of Reed Solomon Encoding
• Symbol Definitions
• MIDS Transmission Symbol Packets
• Cyclic Code Shift Keying Codewords
• Adjacent Channel Rejection
• IF & Image Rejection
• Power Output
• Environmental Requirements
• MIL-STD-810G Application to Link 16
• MIL-STD-188-220D
• Link 16 Cybersecurity
• Link 16 and MIL-STD-1553 Integration

Link 16 System Planning and Network Management

• Link 16 planning
• Link 16 NPG and IER requirements
• Link 16 platforms
• FCA Requirements
• Optask link
• Daily mission planning
• Network Designs
• Link 16 Operators
• IER Database
• Link 16 network operations and monitoring
• FCA compliance monitoring
• Platform connectivity
• Timeslot utilization monitoring
• TSDF calculations
• Over-the-Air Assignment and De-Assignment of Timeslots
• Relay Assignment
• Analysis and optimization

Advanced Terminal Design 

• Link 16 Interference
• Link 16 EMI/EMC
• Slot Duty Factor (TSDF)
• TSDF Calculations
• LINK 16 TERMINAL EMC FEATURES CERTIFICATION
• Link 16 Equipment
• ENGINEERING CHANGES TO LINK 16 EQUIPMENT
• PLATFORM INTEGRATION OF LINK 16 EQUIPMENT
• LINK 16 EMC FEATURES PERFORMANCE
• DoD New Link 16 Equipment EMC Features Certification Methodology
• DoD Link 16 EMC Features ECP Certification Methodology
• DoD Link 16 Platform Integration Compliance Review Methodology
• DoD Link 16 EMC Features/RF Emissions Deviation/Waiver Request
• Inter-pulse Power Level Requirement
• Inter Message Structure Power Level Requirements
• JTIDS/MIDS Pulse Power Spectral Mask within 920 to 1266 MHz