The fifth generation of wireless technologies promises exponentially faster speeds as well as the capacity to accommodate more and more-advanced devices.
The importance of GPS as a military tool was underscored by Kremlin media in November 2021 as troops were massing along the Ukraine border. After Russia demonstrated it could destroy a satellite in space, a television commentator known to be an unofficial mouthpiece of President Putin said the nation could “blind NATO” by shooting down all GPS satellites.
“Bring Your Own Approved Device” initiative would allow guardsmen to use personal mobile equipment to perform the same functions in the field that they would otherwise carry out at a desktop in their offices.
The Defense Department’s 5G strategy is written with a sense of urgency: The nations “that master advanced communications technologies and ubiquitous connectivity will have a long-term economic and military advantage,” its unclassified, public pages read.
“When we think about today’s environment, it’s less about the traditional arms race of the past, and it’s more about the technology race of today and the future.“
The competition, conducted in collaboration with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, focuses on open interfaces, swappable and compatible parts, and the development of a diverse, multi-vendor community.
“Our battle space is all connected,” said David Rohall with Lockheed Martin. “No longer just does a soldier talk to the soldier next to him, but the soldier is talking to the airmen who may be flying above.”
DeployNet, as it’s known, is a ruggedized, 5G communication system for military and crisis operations. Unveiled by Saab during the Unmanned Systems Exhibition here, it provides 5G/LTE wireless network for challenging environments, and has high-capacity bandwidth for missions relying on information sources, sensors and user interaction.
Stephen Dickson, a former pilot and executive with Delta Air Lines in Atlanta, had led the FAA since August 2019. He citied separation from his family during the pandemic, saying he told President Joe Biden, “It is time to go home.”
Cyril Dujardin, senior vice president and global head of digital security at France-based Atos, shared his perspective on how 5G will transform the European defense sector.