USA Approves Sale of Link-16 Modernization Kits for F-16 to Turkey
The US State Department has officially informed Congress of its decision to sell modernization kits for the Link-16 tactical data link network, the communication system of F-16 warplanes, according to sources cited by the AA correspondent. The package will see the Link-16 tactical data link system of existing F-16s upgraded to the "Block Upgrade-2" level, as well as the installation of Automatic Collision Avoidance Systems, related equipment and engineering support. Link-16 is a military radio network used by NATO and allied countries that provides tactical information sharing between aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ships, and ground troops. It is known for its high-speed data transfer, automatic data refresh, dynamic routing, and wide coverage, and is used in air defense, air attack, naval warfare, and other tactical operations. The US Congress has the right to appeal the decision within 15 working days for sales approvals given to NATO members and within 30 working days for non-NATO countries. The Defense and Security Cooperation Agency has not issued an official statement at this time.
