Common Data Link Executive Agent Overview

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Common Data Link Executive AgentOverview
UNCLASSIFIED
Headquarters U.S. Air Force
I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l
l e n c e

• Maj Thomas Kulas
• SAF/AQIZ
• 10 Dec 08

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Outline

• Common Data Link (CDL) Overview
• CDL Policy
• Interoperability
• Summary

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CDL Overview
Mission Wideband transmission (10-274 Mbps) of
ISR data from collection to intelligence
processing centers and end users Task Develop an
interoperable, joint family of secure, wideband,
point-to-point and point-to-multipoint data links
for air-air, air-surface, data transmission Users
Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, US Allies 500
operational CDLs Governance OUSD (Intelligence)
provides oversight Air Force is Executive Agent
for CDL Research Development Services
participate in CDL IPT and retain responsibility
for procurement and integration
DoD Standard for Manned Unmanned ISR
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Selected CDL Terminals
Multi Role-Tactical CDL (MR-TCDL)
Tactical CDL (TCDL)
Mini-CDL
Not to Scale
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DoD CDL Policy30 Dec 05

• CDL remains the Departments standard for all
  ISR wide-band links for manned and unmanned
  platforms to promote Service interoperability.
  As such, all ISR wide-band terminal variants,
  including tactical CDLs (TCDLs), shall comply
  with the Waveform Specification for the Standard
  CDL (Rev F) Due to current size, weight, power
  and cost considerations, SUAS (defined as systems
  30 lbs or less dry vehicle weight) are exempted
  from this policy.
• John G. Grimes
• ASD(NII)

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DoD UAS Spectrum Policy14 Apr 06

• Directs large and medium sized UAS to migrate to
  Ku-band CDL by specified dates
• Implementation dates range from FY08 to FY13
• Guidance for small UAS to be provided in
  follow-on policy
• Waivers must be approved by USD(ATL) and ASD(NII)

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Public Law 109-163FY06 Defense Authorization Act

• SEC. 141. REQUIREMENT THAT ALL TACTICAL UNMANNED
  AERIAL VEHICLES USE SPECIFIED STANDARD DATA LINK
• (a) Requirement -The Secretary of Defense shall
  take such steps as necessary to ensure that all
  tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the
  Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force are
  equipped and configured so that--
• (1) the data link used by those vehicles is the
  Department of Defense standard tactical unmanned
  aerial vehicle data link known as the Tactical
  Common Data Link (TCDL)
• (b) Funding Limitation - After December 1, 2006,
  no funds available to the Department of Defense
  may be used to equip a tactical unmanned aerial
  vehicle with data links other than TCDL
• (c) Waiver Authority - The USD(ATL) may waive
  the applicability of subsection (a) to any TUAV
  if the undersecretary determines, and certifies
  to the congressional defense committees, that it
  would be technologically infeasible or
  economically unacceptable

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Interoperability Initiatives

• Data Link interoperability
• Addition of standard interoperability profiles to
  next revision of CDL specification (Rev. G)
• Development of standard test equipment for JITC
  certification
• Development of common joint use terminals (e.g.,
  Mini-CDL)
• Documentation of platform CDL implementations in
  central database
• End-to-End interoperability
• Addition of IP-based networking standards to CDL
  Spec
• Identification and development of additional
  Interoperability Profiles
• Support to UAS Task Force and service working
  groups

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Summary

• CDL is the DoD standard for manned and unmanned
  ISR systems
• UAS migration to CDL is underway but will take
  time
• Interoperability is a complex, end-to-end problem
• Data Link interoperability in general, and CDL
  interoperability in particular, is necessary but
  not sufficient
• Challenges remain but many strong initiatives are
  ongoing