I have a friend who told me that the F-35 does not have the capability to communicate with the F-22 Stealth Fighter. Is this true?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 18:52:18 -0400

Link-16 is what I have been told NATO aircraft can communicate on a secure basis with the USAF aircraft as well. I can't believe that the F-22 and the F-35 can't communicate securely either. I am using Rallypoint members as a defacto Snopes.com so please help me out? I hope it is just a rumor. I am Army guy that loves aviation!

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Sep 9 at 2017 7:05 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 19:05:43 -0400

The Air Force in March said the JSF wasn't supposed to communicate with the others.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2017 7:10 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 19:10:06 -0400

F22 IFDL can't talk to F35 NATO Link-16 - Northrop publicly offers to send drones along to relay and translate. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/08/23/northrops-fix-for-f-35-and-f-22-communications-problems-involves-global-hawk-uavs/

Northrop’s fix for F-35 and F-22 communications problem involves Global Hawk drones

Northrop Grumman has a pitch to solve communications problems between the F-35 and F-22.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Sep 9 at 2017 8:08 PM

SGT Jim Arnold — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 20:08:20 -0400

isnt that the job of aircraft traffic control? or some kind of command center?

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Sep 9 at 2017 9:51 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 21:51:29 -0400

Based on my experience, both aircraft have more than one radio. They could probably communicate in the clear (unencrypted). It may be largely irrelevant. Fighter usually fly in flights of the same types of aircraft. They communicate with airborne or ground based controllers. They also need to communicate with Air refueling aircraft. The ability to talk securely to aircraft of other types and flying different missions may not be a major problem.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Apr 4 at 2019 7:19 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 07:19:02 -0400

I’m a aerial fan also.. let’s say we give them a benefit of the doubt.. maybe it’s a purposeful rumor to fool the enemy.. a ruse.. We’ll let it go with that..