Which data link provides line-of-sight communications used in various Navy sensor and data systems?

• A. Common Data Link (CDL)
• B. Battle Force Tactical Network (BFTN)
• C. Navy Cash
• D. Multicast Tactical Digital Information Link (TADIL) -J (MTJ)

Answer: (A)

When you’re moving sensor data between Navy platforms, line-of-sight links are used for high-speed, real-time transmission over relatively short distances. The Common Data Link provides exactly that: a line-of-sight data link that carries high-bandwidth sensor data—like video and radar outputs—between aircraft, ships, and ground stations for quick sharing and processing. This makes it the go-to path for sharing live sensor information across Navy systems.

Other options don’t fit as neatly. The Battle Force Tactical Network is a broader interoperability network that ties multiple systems together over various media rather than a dedicated LOS sensor data link. Navy Cash is unrelated to data links, being a payment system. The multicast TADIL-J family (Link 16) is a joint data-link system used for command and control across services, not the Navy’s primary line-of-sight sensor data distribution path.