How often do Link 16 buoys update their position?

• A. 24 seconds
• B. 48 seconds
• C. 2 minutes
• D. 12 seconds

Answer: (B)

In Link 16, how often a asset’s position is broadcast depends on how dynamic that asset is. Buoys are fixed or move very slowly, so their position updates are scheduled less frequently to conserve bandwidth for moving assets that need faster updates. The standard cadence for buoy position updates is 48 seconds, which strikes a balance between keeping the position data current and not overloading the network with messages. Faster intervals would waste capacity for little movement, while much slower intervals could let the buoy’s position get stale in a dynamic environment. So the position is updated every 48 seconds.