Common Data Link (CDL)
Common Data Link Executive Agent (CDL EA) provides the DoW standard for interoperable, multi-service, multi-agency, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) datalinks for 15,000 DoW manned/unmanned airborne and ground terminals. The project advances CDL through partnership with each of the Services, NSA, JITC, FFRDCs, and Industry. As the DoW CDL EA, the Air Force applies CDL RDT&E Military Intelligence Program (MIP) funds, using cross-Service teams, ensuring compliance with DoW waveform mandates. The CDL EA develops, modifies, distributes, and maintains specifications for the CDL waveform family; ensuring design configuration control, commonality, and interoperability among ISR platforms. The CDL EA also funds and supports cross-Service teams that manage development, maturation, and migration of CDL technologies. CDL EA enables compliance with OSW mandates to effectively utilize spectrum, use approved cryptographic equipment, and provide direct support to current operations. CDL is a vital link in DoW's existing and emerging communication architectures, providing flexibility to accommodate Command and Control (C2) data and myriad types of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), and Full-Motion Video (FMV) data. The CDL specifications enable interoperable operations of current and future ISR assets worldwide by providing sensor data directly via point-to-point and networked air-to-air or compatible satellite broadcast links to ground sites, surface ships, airborne platforms, and dismounted users, supporting Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) warfare. The CDL EA effort advances top-line CDL capabilities while maintaining compatibility with fielded U.S. and Allied terminals CDL EA's research and development activities support a broad array of tactical (including tactical data links (TDL) and high capacity backbone (HCB)), operational, and strategic ISR users. High priority investment activities support and include: achieving higher data rates, open architecture development, multi-access and multi-node network management, cryptographic modernization, advancements needed to operate in contested environments, terminal design enhancements, and operations in other spectral bands for spectrum efficiency.
- Will continue to research and evaluate technology developments for enhancing the CDL enterprise networking architecture, to include network management devices, applications and advanced algorithms. - Will continue to research, evaluate and develop more spectrally efficient waveforms to support Combatant Command demand for higher…
Read the FY2027 plan →- Will continue development of vendor and government owned reference implementation of the new LPI/LPD/AJ waveform to perform future test and validation to ensure the CDL specification is accurate and can be built by multiple vendors in the future, therefore keeping the market space open. - Will continue evaluation, analysis and study of…
Read the FY2027 plan →FY2027 planned work - Will continue to research and evaluate developing technologies to minimize the National Security Agency (NSA) required certification requirements for terminals while standardizing Communications Security (COMSEC) implementation. - Will continue incorporating data Transmission Security (TRANSEC) support, data handling capabilities, and new cryptographic algorithms into all cryptographic core form factors (i.e., Nano, Mini and Mega). - Will continue to upgrade Nano and Mini crypto cores with customer requested Engineering Change Proposals (ECP) and complete Security Validation Testing (SVT) and subsequent National Security Agency (NSA) Cyber Security Certification. - Will continue to ensure…
FY2026 to FY2027 change The reduced budgetary allocations for Accomplishments/Planned Programs come from a department of War program funding cut of 20% across the FYDP. The Common Data Link (CDL) program focused on core competencies of waveform specification maintenance and updates, as well as cryptographic core modernization and SERD 2.0 compliance.
FY2026 plans — current year - Continue to research and evaluate developing technologies to minimize the National Security Agency (NSA) required certification requirements for terminals while standardizing Communications Security (COMSEC) implementation. - Continue incorporating data Transmission Security (TRANSEC) support, data handling capabilities, and new cryptographic algorithms into all cryptographic core form factors (i.e., Nano, Mini and Mega). - Continue to upgrade Nano and Mini crypto cores with customer requested Engineering Change Proposals (ECP) and complete Security Validation Testing (SVT) and subsequent National Security Agency (NSA) Cyber Security Certification. - Continue to ensure CDL family of…