Verizon and Lockheed demonstrate 5G-connected surveillance for Pentagon

Verizon and Lockheed demonstrate 5G-connected surveillance for Pentagon

Washington , 9/30/2022

Verizon and Lockheed Martin recently flew 5G-enabled drones at Lockheed Martin’s 5G test site in Waterton, Colorado, to capture , transmit and locate high-speed data from aircraft as well as military targets in flight. In a statement, Verizon said these actions demonstrated the ability of 5G millimeter wave networks to transmit data from aircraft in flight over Lockheed Martin’s multi-site 5G pilot network.

The companies said they demonstrated two important technological advances that can provide important applications for the Department of Defense (DoD).

Aimed at enabling improved situational awareness and command and control for commanders and military personnel in the field, the first test transmitted ISR radio frequency (RF) and streaming video data in real time over 5G millimeter wave links. Verizon explained that this enables advanced signal processing algorithms at the „tactical edge.“ The second test demonstrated the technology’s ability to passively detect and geolocate RF signals that could be used for communication, detection or jamming.

„To stay ahead of our adversaries, military decision makers need the timely and accurate information that 5G.MIL provided in this demonstration,“ said Dan Rice, vice president of 5G.MIL Programs at Lockheed Martin. „By combining advanced commercial 5G capabilities with military capabilities using secure, open standards, we are helping to realize the Department of Defense’s vision of integrated deterrence.“

Srini Kalapala, SVP of technology and product development at Verizon, said, „By demonstrating the mission-critical connectivity our network provides, we’re showing how 5G and edge computing can help the Department of Defense meet its strategic priorities and develop advanced solutions.“

For the demonstration, Lockheed Martin flew four rotorcraft drones on coordinated ISR missions while connected to two Verizon private network nodes, enabling secure transmission of ISR data. The companies then securely transmitted the data captured by the drones between a 5G private network and a backup public network. The companies emphasized that the ability to leverage private and public 5G networks is critical because it extends the reach of 5G.MIL technology to a range of military environments where commercial networks may not be available or suitable.

The drones then successfully located a target in the field that was emitting a low-power RF signal. The partners pointed out that the signal was detected because the drones‘ real-time sensor data was transmitted over Verizon’s network and then processed by advanced signal processing algorithms that ran on edge computing resources, enabling geolocation of the signal source.

Last year, Verizon and Lockheed Martin had announced a formal partnership focused on providing cutting-edge technologies to the Department of Defense. The companies have already conducted a joint demonstration using a Verizon private 5G network installed at Lockheed Martin Space’s 5G test site in Colorado. Future demonstrations will expand ISR test scenarios to include precise geolocation of moving RF transmitters and expand testing of secure interoperability between public and private sectors in hybrid 5G.MIL networks with military data links.