As part of an ongoing technology collaboration to
advance the future battlespace, Lockheed Martin and
Verizon recently flew 5G-enabled drones to capture and
securely transfer high-speed, real-time intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data from aircraft
in flight to geolocate military targets. The
demonstration at Lockheed Martin’s 5G test range in
Waterton, Colo. showcases the power of millimeter wave
5G networks to move data from aircraft in flight over
Lockheed Martin’s multi-site, multi-vendor 5G.MIL pilot
network.
The companies demonstrated two key advances in
technology that can provide critical applications to the
Department of Defense (DOD).
To provide enhanced situational awareness and command &
control (C2) for commanders and service members in the
field, the first test involved real-time ISR radio
frequency (RF) and streaming video data transmitted over
5G millimeter wave links. This allows advanced signal
processing algorithms to occur at the tactical edge. The
low latency and reliability provided by the Verizon
network was critical in being able to process this data
in close to real time, which was displayed in a
livestream video feed.
The second test demonstrated the technology’s ability to
passively detect and geolocate RF signals that could be
used for communications, sensing, or jamming,
capabilities that will enable the DOD to detect and
target adversarial assets in a military environment.
“To stay ahead of our adversaries, military
decision-makers need the timely and accurate information
that 5G.MIL delivered in this demonstration,” said Dan
Rice, vice president of 5G.MIL Programs at Lockheed
Martin. “By blending advanced commercial 5G capabilities
with military capabilities using secure, open standards,
we are helping to make the DOD’s vision for integrated
deterrence a reality.”
“Verizon is the network America relies on, and our
Private 5G Ultra Wideband networks provide the security,
reliability, capacity and low latency that the defense
sector depends on,” said Srini Kalapala, Senior Vice
President for Technology and Product Development at
Verizon. "By demonstrating the mission critical
connectivity that our network provides, we are
demonstrating how 5G and edge computing can help the DOD
address their strategic priorities and continue to
develop advanced solutions.”
For this latest 5G-enabled drone demonstration, Lockheed
Martin flew four rotary wing drones on coordinated ISR
missions while linked to two Verizon On Site Private
Network nodes, which enables the secure transfer of ISR
data. The companies then seamlessly and securely moved
the data captured by the drones between a 5G private
network and a surrogate public network. The ability to
use private and public 5G networks is key because it
will extend the reach of 5G.MIL technology to a range of
military environments where commercial networks may not
be available or appropriate.
The
drones then successfully located a target in the field
that was transmitting a low power RF signal. The signal
was detected because real-time drone sensing data was
transmitted over the Verizon network and then processed
by advanced signal processing algorithms running on edge
compute resources, enabling geolocation of the signal
source.
This demonstration follows Lockheed Martin’s and
Verizon’s announcement last year of a formal partnership
focused on faster delivery of cutting-edge technologies
to the DOD. The companies have already conducted a joint
demonstration using a Verizon private 5G network
installed at Lockheed Martin Space’s 5G Test Range in
Colorado, and future demonstrations will expand ISR test
scenarios to include precision geolocation of moving RF
emitters and extend experimentation of public-private
secure interoperability in 5G.MIL hybrid networks with
military data links.
