The Brazilian military datalink will allow aircraft to exchange data with each other and with Command and Control stations in mid-flight.
In March, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) carried out Operation IRIS 2024 at Canoas Air Base (BACO), an important step forward in the Link-BR2 Project, the Brazilian military datalink that aims to enable the secure exchange of information in real time, increasing Command and Control capabilities. The activity, foreseen in the Operations Plan of the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA), was crucial for the development and certification of the Radio Terminal Data Link (RTDL) equipment and its integration into the F-5M aircraft.
Flight Test Campaign
The first phase of the operation focused on complementary tests to develop the project, which used two F-5M aircraft integrated with the Link-BR2 System. The activities allowed for an improvement in the analyses already carried out in previous tests.
“The implementation of Link-BR2 involves a complex set of engineering and technological developments, which involved more than 50 specialists in various areas. The system strengthens interoperability between different air and ground platforms, increasing the situational awareness of network participants, as well as maximizing effectiveness in mission accomplishment,” said the Operational Coordinator of the Trials and IPEV pilot, Major Vinicius Marcel Holdorf.
The rehearsals were attended by the Director General of the DCTA, Air Brigadier Mauricio Augusto Silveira de Medeiros; the President of the Combat Aircraft Program Coordinating Committee (COPAC), Air Brigadier Mauro Bellintani; and the Commander of the Fifth Regional Air Command (V COMAR), Air Brigadier Vincent Dang.
During his visit to the operation, General Medeiros emphasized the importance of technology for the Brazilian Aerospace Power. “Over 40 years, the Brazilian Air Force and AEL Sistemas have built a partnership in the development of strategic projects. The tests carried out during Operation IRIS attested to the high technological and operational level of Link-BR2,” he said.
Several FAB organizations and military units took part in the operation, including BACO, the First Squadron of the Tenth Aviation Group (1°/14° GAV) – Pampa Squadron, the Institute for Research and Flight Tests (IPEV), the Combat Aircraft Program Coordinating Committee (COPAC), the Aeronautical and Military Material Directorate (DIRMAB) and the Institute for Industrial Development and Coordination (IFI).
Link-BR2 Project
The FAB’s long-term vision, in partnership with AEL Sistemas, aims for autonomy in network-centric warfare (NCW), highlighting Brazil on the international stage as one of the few countries capable of developing and operating high-security tactical data link technologies. Link-BR2 demonstrates operational transformation capacity, allowing the FAB to achieve informational and tactical superiority in operations, standing out for its ability to reduce the decision-making cycle during combat.
With Operation IRIS 2024, the FAB is reinforcing its commitment to modernizing and improving its operational capabilities, guaranteeing the safety and effectiveness of its future missions.
Photo: Captain Guilherme Rocha / IPEV *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***