Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Wednesday said it has successfully demonstrated in the field a hybrid tactical mesh network based on fifth-generation wireless communications, advancing the company’s capabilities in 5G for military use.
The demonstration included mission simulations to showcase the 5G.MIL Unified Network Solutions (UNS) for joint all-domain operations and command and control. Lockheed Martin said the simulated missions in the field provided a “stress test” of the network.
The successfully testing of the 5G.MIL UNS brought its Technology Readiness Level to 6-plus, which the company said “is a fully functional prototype model.”
Lockheed Martin said it is working with its commercial partners toward an initial operating capability for 5G.MIL UNS in 2024.
The 5G.MIL UNS brings together commercial technologies that include Intel Corp.
’s [INTC] FlexRAN reference software and processor capabilities, Verizon’s [VZ] mobile network-as-a-service solution and Single Pane of Glass Network Management tool, Microsoft’s [MSFT] Azure cloud solution for cloud to tactical edge via satellite communications, Juniper Networks’ [JNPR] smart router technology and 5G radio access network intelligent controller, Keysight Technologies’ [KEYS] radio frequency planning, configuration, and optimization tools, and Radisys Corp.’s [RSYS] end-to-end 5G network software.
Lockheed Martin leverages its artificial intelligence machine learning operations platform to deploy the AI-based commercial capabilities. The tactical mesh network included five of the company’s hybrid base stations, tactical datalinks, and space backhaul.
“To stay ahead of evolving security challenges, military commanders need fast, secure access to critical information for decision superiority, no matter the circumstances,” Dan Rice, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of 5G.MIL UNS programs, said in a statement. “Collaborating with commercial and defense technology leaders is a key component of Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security vision and accelerate our delivery of secure 5G.MIL Unified Network Solutions to enable prompt, data-drive decisions across all operational domains.”