HF-Based NILE Network Configuration for Link-22 Operations on the Korean Peninsula

The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), in collaboration with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United States Navy (USN), is preparing to deploy Link-22, a Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) tactical data link. This deploy- ment aims to address the limitations of Link-11 and support more comprehensive Network-Centric Operations (NCO). De- termining the appropriate configuration of the Super Network (SN) and the NATO Improved Link Eleven (NILE) Networks (NNs) is crucial to ensure effective Link-22 operations in the Korean theater. This paper proposes a design methodology for the NNs, tailored to the geographic and operational requirements of the Korean Peninsula. Our analysis, which is based on High-Frequency (HF) communication and Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) propagation, indicates that four HF-based NNs with a transmission power of 100W and up to 500W provide reliable coverage for short to medium-range communications. This configuration minimizes communication gaps and ensures continuous connectivity. These results offer practical guidelines for the ROKN’s deployment of Link-22 networks.