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Tactical data links solution from IBM
Executive summary Department view Technical details
The goal
Exchange information across units and platforms
How can you improve the effectiveness of combat units? By allowing teams to interoperate more effectively you may increase operational readiness. The tactical data links solution from IBM provides an intelligent interface for data link systems to allow the exchange of information with other friendly units.

The advantage
Broad expertise and multilink technology
The tactical data links solution from IBM is built on extensive experience. We have been involved in the provision of data links to defense forces for many years and have broad field capabilities, encompassing four main areas:
  • Production of Data Link Processing System (DLPS) for Royal Navy ships
  • Production of Autonomous Link Eleven System (ALES) for the Royal Marines
  • The Link 22 NATO Improved Link Eleven (NILE) program
  • Performance of data link studies

With a broad range of data link expertise, we have been involved in a number of studies for both the UK and other countries, such as:
  • Consultancy to the Horizon FF consortium
  • Support to the German Navy Link 22 PD Study
  • Support to the German Navy Multi Link Study (MULUS)
  • Support for Combat Management Integrated System Environment (CMISE)

The benefits
Extend the effectiveness of your operations
Modern surveillance, peacekeeping, interdiction and warfare relies on the exchange of tactical realtime encrypted communications to improve situational awareness. Extend your organization's range of information sharing during operations, such as:
  • Combat
  • Peacekeeping
  • Support to civil authority
  • Coast guarding
  • Drug enforcement
  • Customs and policing

The tactical data links solution from IBM can help your defense organization build a tactical picture to increase situation awareness. For example, if one ship has radar contact identified as a hostile ship, the unit can pass it around to other units who don't see it yet. This can help enable commanders to make decisions based on a more complete picture of the situation.

Our solution can extend the effectiveness of your operations, such as the ability to:
  • Allow units without organic sensors to receive a complete tactical picture, including crucial early warnings of enemy activity.
  • Sync coalition forces with shared tactical data.
  • Extend data link to new systems.
  • Share tactical information among different platform types.
  • Allow your units to receive and redirect data from a variety of sources in a format that virtually all participants can understand.
  • Provide real-time identification of allied forces.

The approach
IBM helps the U.K. Royal Navy improve situational awareness
The U.K. Royal Navy needed to allow its forces to talk to each other and to exchange information in near realtime. IBM provided the Data Links Processing System, which acts as the interface between cooperating units in a wireless environment. The U.K. Royal Navy now has a NATO-compliant system that extends the commanders' tactical picture while helping reduce risk of friendly fire incidents. The DLPS allows the platform tactical data link system suite to give Royal Navy commanders improved situational awareness.

IBM has provided tactical data link technology to the Royal Navy for nearly 20 years, and the DLPS is in operational service on aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and assault ships.

The financial advantage
Extend your technical budget
The tactical data links solution from IBM can help your organization make the most of your technical budget:
  • Leverage technology investments by establishing NATO-compliant systems.
  • Extend efficiency of personnel, reducing the number of units needed in a battle arena.
  • Improve return on investment with systems prepared for future growth.