F-22s using the communications gateway known as the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node resident on some RQ-4 Block 20 aircraft are able to pass data to other aircraft types in flight, said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on Capitol Hill last week. “Our findings thus far is that this serves the purpose,” Schwartz told the House Appropriation Committee’s defense panel. He added, “This is an intermediate capability” until a more permanent data link solution is found for the F-22. Schwartz said the Air Force has deferred plans to add the Multifunction Advanced Data Link going on the F-35 to the F-22. The technology “was not yet mature enough,” he said during the March 31 oversight hearing. The Raptor’s current set-up allows F-22 pilots to pass information to other F-22s via an organic data link, but not directly to other aircraft types. (Donley-Schwartz prepared statement)
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
