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DOD
Tests 5G Digital Battle Network
January 20, 2023
Northrop Grumman, AT&T and Fujitsu recently
demonstrated 5G-enabled intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
capabilities in Northrop Grumman’s new 5G lab. The demonstration
integrated radios with Northrop Grumman’s tactical data links, AT&T’s
private 5G network and Fujitsu’s Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) to
transmit ISR data and video, proving our strength in connecting the
battlespace. This is a critical step in building the digital battle
network to support multi-domain operations.
“This critical capability will bring
together the high speeds, low latency and cybersecurity protections of
private 5G networks with the flexibility and scalability of commercial
5G capabilities,” said Ben Davies, vice president and general manager
networked information solutions division, Northrop Grumman. “Enabling 5G
connectivity for our warfighters across domains will help realize a
connected battlespace for the joint force.”
Last spring, Northrop Grumman and AT&T established a joint research and
development agreement to build a digital battle network powered by
AT&T’s commercial 5G network and Northrop Grumman’s robust portfolio of
capabilities that are at the forefront of military technological
advancement to enable the joint force.
 “This
demonstration showcased the benefits of commercially available 5G for
the Department of Defense and the open, standards-based technologies
that we’re exploring and developing as leaders in the O-RAN Alliance,”
said Lance Spencer, client executive vice president, defense, public
sector, AT&T.
“Open RAN is accelerating 5G innovations to deliver high-speed,
low-latency requirements for mission-critical applications,” said Greg
Manganello, senior vice president and vice head of the 5G mobile systems
business unit at Fujitsu. “Our collaboration with Northrop Grumman and
AT&T highlights the benefits of the ecosystem underpinning of Open RAN,
enabling new configurations of mission-critical communications
networks.”
The collaboration between Northrop Grumman, AT&T and Fujitsu is designed
to drive innovation at speed to deliver a cost-effective, scalable, open
architecture solution for the DoD. This approach can enable rapid
deployment of new capabilities and shorten the decision-making timeline
in a multi-domain, contested environment – a key component in laying the
foundation for Joint All-Domain Command and Control |
