But you can't use Link 16 because when you transmit in a way that allows lots of people to pick up your message, you also let lots of other people know you are there, and where you are, and the last time I looked, the whole point of this stealthy business was somewhat opposed to that concept.
So instead you have the secret-squirrel pencil beam link that only talks to other F-22s - but wait, there's a fix for that, you just transmit data back to a Global Hawk that then relays on the Link 16...
Until someone on the other side says, "err, what's the Global Hawk stooging around there for, outside its sensor range?"