Section 1 — The IDM and Network Fundamentals
“Let’s begin with the IDM itself.
The Improved Data Modem is the digital backbone of the AH‑64E. It supports three distinct protocols, and the handout lists them clearly: ‘LONGBOW, TACTICAL INTERNET, PRIVATE NET’ (PDF p. D‑3).
Each protocol serves a different purpose:
Longbow, or ‘L’, is used for digital communication with other Longbow aircraft and with JSTARS.
Tactical Internet, or ‘TI’, uses JVMF messaging to send situational awareness and comm