Tactical data links are critical to network centric battlefield planning and execution. There are many legacy data links that must be optimized and integrated into modern battle spaces. Implementations of data links have been platform-centric with limited regard to how other military assets could use or process the data to be transmitted. There have been some attempts to catalog each platform's implementation, but little has been done with the data to support automated planning and evaluation of data link performance or levels of interoperability.

This paper describes an investigation into alternative methods for simulation of data links to support planning, design, and implementation of tactical data links. Data link simulations created to date have focused on performance and interoperability at the physical layer while modeling data and information flow at a statistical level only, relying on reference implementations of military standards. The methods investigated and presented in this paper seek to use existing physical layer data link models while using actual documented platform implementation data to develop accurate aircraft communication and information exchange models.

These accurate aircraft data link implementation models, when coupled with equally accurate aircraft motion and behavior models, will allow true interoperability and information flow analysis without prolonged post-integration flight testing. The approach has considerable potential impacts in the areas of platform integration, training simulations and joint interoperability testing.