BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE MANUAL 13-116
13 AUGUST 2020
Nuclear, Space, Missile, or Command and
Control Operations
TACTICAL DATA
LINK PLANNING AND OPERATIONS
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available for downloading or ordering on the
e-Publishing website at www.e-Publishing.af.mil
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication
OPR: ACC/A3CJ
Supersedes: AFI 11-261, 15 October 2012
Certified by: AF/A3T
(Maj Gen James A. Jacobson)
Pages: 26
This publication implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 13-1, Command and Control
Enterprise, and is consistent with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction (CJCSI)
6232.01, Link 16 Spectrum Deconfliction and CJCSI 6610.01, Tactical Data Link
Standardization and Interoperability.” It provides guidance and procedures on Tactical Data
Link (TDL) training, planning, and operations throughout the Air Force. It applies to Regular
Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard military and civilian personnel at all levels
who train, plan, implement, and manage Link 16 and other TDLs that operate independently or
integrate into multi-TDL networks. This includes both within the United States and Possessions
(US&P) and in theaters of operations outside the US&P. Ensure records generated as a result of
processes prescribed in this publication adhere to Air Force Instruction (AFI) 33-322, Records
Management and Information Governance Program, and are disposed of in accordance with the
Air Force Records Disposition Schedule, which is located in the Air Force Records Information
Management System. Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to the
Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) using the Air Force Form 847, Recommendation for
Change of Publication; route Air Force Forms 847 from the field through the appropriate
functional manager’s chain of command to include ACC/A3CJ,
acca3cj.tdlomo.allpersonnel@us.af.mil. This publication may be supplemented at any level,
but all supplements must be routed to the OPR for coordination prior to certification and
approval. The authorities to waive wing/unit level requirements in this publication are identified
with a Tier (“T-0, T-1, T-2, T-3”) number following the compliance statement. See AFI 33-360,
Publications and Forms Management, for a description of the authorities associated with the Tier
numbers. Submit requests for waivers through the chain of command to include ACC/A3CJ,
