It looks to me like USAF is making some decisions with their date links with an eye toward deliberately obsoleting the current fleet. (paid subscription required)

The short version is that the USAF has an existing data link, Link 16, which is both narrow-band and non-stealthy, so it needs replacement.

The USAF has just selected the directional multifunction advanced data link (MADL) in preference to the competing tactical targeting network technology (TTNT) for the B-2, F-22, and F-35.

While this appears to be inside baseball, the caption on a picture along with the article speaks volumes, “An anti-access data link will allow B-2s to share information with F-22s and F-35s, but not legacy platforms such as F-15s.”

So I am wondering if this is a deliberate attempt to obsolete legacy platforms so as to justify more F-22 and F-35 purchases?