Which JTIDS/MIDS protocol allows platforms to take turns transmitting and receiving data?

The correct answer is Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), which is a key protocol used in the Joint Tactical Data Link system. TDMA allows multiple platforms to transmit and receive data by dividing time into discrete slots. This means that each platform is allocated specific time slots during which it can send or receive data, thus enabling efficient use of the shared communication medium without interference.

In this system, each user has the opportunity to communicate in their designated time slot, preventing overlap and allowing for organized and controlled data exchanges. This time-based allocation is essential, particularly in environments where multiple platforms need to share information without causing conflicts or data loss.

The other options involve different methods of managing the communication channels. For instance, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) spreads signals over a wide frequency band and allows multiple users to occupy the same time and frequency channel simultaneously, which is different from the time-sequenced approach of TDMA. Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) divides the frequency spectrum into distinct channels for each user, allowing simultaneous communication but is primarily frequency-based rather than time-based. The Joint Range Extension Application Protocol (JREAP) is designed for extending data links but does not specifically manage the timing of data transmissions like TDMA does.