C2ISR Tactical Data Link

The C2ISR Tactical Data Link program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0207448F, is an Air Force initiative under the Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation, specifically within the Advanced Component Development & Prototypes (ACD&P) budget activity. The primary goal of this program is to develop, integrate, and enhance Tactical Data Links (TDLs) to support airborne network operations in complex combat environments. TDLs are essential for exchanging mission-critical information such as radar tracks, target data, platform status, and command assignments across various platforms and command and control (C2) elements. This ensures interoperability and situational awareness under rapidly changing operational conditions.

The program's objectives focus on providing secure, jam-resistant digital data transfer capabilities using both new and standardized waveforms and data formats. These capabilities enable both Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications, facilitating intra- and inter-flight connectivity. TDL enhancements are designed to increase mission effectiveness by enabling positive identification of networked aircraft, correlating sensor data, sharing target and threat information, and supporting time-critical targeting and mission updates. The investment is justified by the need for U.S. Air Force and joint forces to maintain a robust, resilient, and interoperable communications network that can adapt to evolving threats and operational requirements.

Within this program element, a key line item is dedicated to the development of advanced communications capabilities for the E-7 platform. The E-7 is intended to replace the aging and increasingly unsustainable E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), which has been in service since the 1970s. The E-7 will serve as the Air Force's principal airborne command and control platform, providing persistent surveillance and acting as a critical node in the long-range kill chain for the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC). The transition to the E-7 is driven by the need for a more reliable, maintainable, and technologically advanced platform to meet current and future operational demands.

The E-7 Advanced Communications initiative funds studies, analyses, requirements definition, and early design work for incorporating advanced communications into the E-7A baseline. This includes research and prototyping efforts related to hybrid SATCOM, Internet Protocol Beyond Line-of-Sight (IP-BLOS), and various datalink technologies. The objective is to enhance the E-7A's communications resiliency, ensuring seamless connectivity with the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Battle Network and enabling the platform to operate across multiple SATCOM networks and datalinks, even if some become unavailable due to adversary action or technical failure.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, the program planned to complete advanced communications studies and early design work, as well as initiate software and hardware prototype development and testing. The majority of the work was contracted to The Boeing Company for rapid prototyping, with program support provided by the AWACS & Wedgetail Program Management Office at Hanscom AFB, MA. The program management structure involves oversight by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Wright-Patterson AFB serving as the contracting authority.

The E-7 advanced communications work under this program element was completed in FY 2025, and no additional funding is programmed for FY 2026 and beyond under PE 0207448F. The reduction in funding for FY 2026 reflects the completion of the initial study and transition of further development activities to other program elements. The acquisition strategy leverages an existing sole source contract with Boeing, ensuring continuity and efficiency in the development process.