Lockheed Martin, Nokia, and Verizon are pushing the boundaries of military connectivity, integrating commercial 5G into a tactical base station for secure, high-speed battlefield communications.
In recent tests, Lockheed’s flagship 5G.MIL Hybrid Base Station hosted Nokia’s military-grade 5G network, demonstrating seamless data exchange across multiple sites.
Android devices switched between waveforms without interruption, proving the system’s resilience. Verizon provided network operations and management solutions throughout.
“By integrating the 5G.MIL HBS with Nokia’s 5G solutions … Lockheed Martin and its strategic collaborators are well positioned to bring new levels of performance, scalability, and reliability to military, national security wireless, and ally international defense networks,” a statement from the consortium said.
“This will create new ways for customers to apply enhanced capabilities to global military, national security, and homeland defense mission areas, giving operators greater connectivity, faster and more reliable wireless networks, and enhanced interoperability in support of Joint All Domain Operations.”
‘Transformative Power’
Tests confirmed Lockheed’s HBS seamlessly integrates with Nokia’s 5G network, proving its adaptability for military use.
Next, the companies will validate the system at Nokia’s Experimental Network site in Orlando, Florida, where Verizon’s tech is already in place.
Upcoming trials will refine the integration, expand device compatibility, and enhance secure public-private network configurations.
“The United States and its allies increasingly depend on fast, secure and advanced communications to access critical information and ensure effective deterrence against threats,” Lockheed Martin Technology & Strategic Innovation SVP John Clark commented.
“5G.MIL integrations like this strategic relationship with Nokia and Verizon will help ensure data is seamlessly routed throughout the battlespace in ways that make future mission success possible,” he added.
Nokia’s Mobile Networks President Tommi Uitto echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the flexibility of their 5G solutions in meeting defense demands.
“Through our work with Lockheed Martin and Verizon, we are bringing the transformative power of 5G to mission-critical defense operations, enhancing situational awareness, speeding up decision-making, and reinforcing mission success,” he said.
