5G Experiments In US Pave Way To Battlefields Abroad
Having awarded $600 million for 5G pilots at five bases in the US, the Pentagon will formally solicit for seven more in the coming months. But will 5G work in war zones?
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. on November 04, 2020 at 5:30 PM
screenshot of USMC video
A Pegasus mini-drone takes off from the back of a MUTT resupply robot. The Marine Corps is exploring whether 5G can improve such machine-to-machine connections.
WASHINGTON: Upcoming experiments at a dozen bases will inform not only how the Pentagon adopts 5G networks on US territory, but how the military modifies civilian 5G tech for battlefield use around the world.
The rapid global spread of 5G networks gives US forces much faster ways to communicate, not only with each other, but with foreign allies — potentially enabling a future international meta-network known as Combined Joint All-Domain Command & Control.
“It’s certainly easier for our allies and partners to get access to 5G equipment — much easier than tactical radio systems,†Joseph Evans, technical director for 5G in the undersecretariat of defense for research & engineering, said.
https://breakingdefense.com/2020/11/5g-experiments-may-lead-to-battlefield-applications-dod/
