Directional transmission and reception in mobile wireless ad hoc networks may include a number of nodes, in which there is at least a first node and a second node. Each node is associated with a time multiplex frame structure having multiple sub-frames. The sub-frames includes at least a first sub-frame, a second sub-frame, and a third sub-frame. Each of the sub-frames includes multiple time slots. The network further includes one or more directional antennas associated with each of the nodes. The first node of the network is configured to establish communication with the second node within one or more time slots corresponding to the first sub-frame in the time multiplex structure. The first node is also configured to reserve one or more time slots for data transmission with the second node within one or more time slots corresponding to the second sub-frame in the time multiplex structure. The first node is further configured to transmit data to the second node based on the one or more reserved time slots corresponding to the third sub-frame in the time multiplex structure. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding techniques, apparatus, and computer program products.