The RAAF expect to operate in 4 F-35A formations with other networkable airborne/ground/(sea-ship?) assets (I'll expect other operators will do the same).
New Data Link Enables Stealthy Comms 14 Jul 2013 AARON MEHTA
"...Gough declined to say how close jets need to be to trigger the network link, but did say tests have shown “very fast” acquisition times once within range.
Live flight system tests at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., began late last year and have continued throughout this year. Initially, the tests involved networking a pair of planes, but recently, test pilots began regularly flying four-plane networks. Those tests are proceeding smoothly, said Joe DellaVedova, a spokesman for the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office.
“MADL testing is performing as planned,” DellaVedova wrote in an email. “Development of the advanced data link is currently tracking to deliver the phased capability expected by the end of development.”
The system is designed for plane-to-plane communications only, something Gough expects to continue in the near term. But he did not rule out experimenting with data transfer to other terminals.
“We have postulated MADL terminals on ships and we have built a MADL test ground station, so it could be done,” he said. “But it’s more about the logistics of where F-35s will be flying and how close to the ground they would be. It would be mission-scenario dependent, but it’s all technically possible.”..."
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