This is a low-bandwidth data communication link that provides summary position and situation information from other participating ships or aircraft in the Maritime Air Area Operations, Direct Fleet Support, NATO Air Operations, Maritime Air Contingency Operations and other missions for establishment of Wide Area Tactical Situation (WATS). The data link capabilities include two-way clear and encrypted data link communication in the UHF and HF bands.The Aurora currently (2006) utilizes a STANAG (this is an acronym for Standardization NATO Agreement) 5511 compliant data link (Link-11) to exchange tactical information with co-operating forces . The Aurora is capable of acting as the net controller; however, in normal operations, it takes part in the data exchange as a participating unit (PU) under the control of a surface vessel or airborne command post.
Although STANAG 5511 defines a large number of separate messages, each concerning a different item or event of tactical interest, the Link-11 data generally falls into three broad categories:
a. Information on enemy forces (fixes, tracks, etc.)
b. Information on own forces (PUs, aircraft, vessels, sonobuoys, etc.)
c. Information of tactical importance (splash points, positions, text messages, etc).With data link active, the Aurora receives all tactical information being broadcast over the net, whether or not the information is directly related to the Aurora mission. As currently implemented in the Aurora Operational Program, both local and remote (received over data link) bearings and tracks are displayed to the operators in essentially the same manner, with only minor differences in the symbol identifying it as remote. As each new item of linked data is received, it must be assessed and either left as a displayed item or inhibited from being displayed as appropriate. The processing of linked information in a complex tactical environment can thus place a significant load on the Aurora operators. However, if the display of linked information is inhibited in order to declutter the tactical display, it is possible that a significant item will go unnoticed by the Aurora crew.
At present (2006) , it is possible to receive more data over the link than can be stored in the Aurora tactical database. As well, the displays are limited in the number of symbols that can be presented to the operator, whether or not the tactical database is full. This creates two problems: the tactical display can become so cluttered with remote symbols that it becomes confusing to the operator, and the computer can become overloaded, resulting in the loss of tactical data. Since the volume and quality of linked data will be further extended through the adoption of NATO Improved Link Eleven (NILE), possibly in conjunction with AIMP, the problem of information overload will be exacerbated unless steps are taken to automate the filtering of linked data in order to present the operator with only that information which is of value.
Reference:1) Information Fusion Concepts For Airborne Maritime Surveillance and C2 Operations by P. Valin ,É. Bossé and A. Jouan dated May 2006. Document #P525407