Advanced
5G.MIL® connectivity, powered by Intel,
drives information dominance for DoD
PALMDALE, Calif., Nov. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
The Big Picture
Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with Intel accomplished an
industry first by successfully integrating a 5G Core and Open Radio
Access Network (O-RAN) into Lockheed Martin's 5G.MIL®
Hybrid Base Station (HBS), providing decisive information dominance
to operators across domains. By integrating Intel's FlexRAN
reference architecture and Intel Xeon Scalable processors into a 3U
tactical chassis, Lockheed Martin implemented open system
communications gateway capabilities on flyable hardware using
established modular open system architecture and 5G commercial
standards. Working within a family of common open architectures
ensures products and solutions are drop-in ready with no vendor
lock.
Expert Perspectives
"The integration of 5G and military tactical radios into our
Hybrid Base Station enables resilient, link-diverse data routing
throughout the battlespace to make future crewed-uncrewed
distributed teaming missions possible," said John G. Clark, vice president and general
manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®. "The Lockheed
Martin 5G.MIL® HBS was designed using open mission
systems standards so that the technology can onramp to multiple and
varied platforms quickly in support of our customers'
transformation vision."
"Lockheed Martin's latest innovation for HBS (Hybrid Base
Station) highlights the type of highly flexible and portable data
capabilities made possible by a virtualized and
software-programmable architecture powered by Intel FlexRAN
reference architecture and Intel Xeon processors," said Dan
Rodriguez, corporate vice president and general manager of
Intel's Network and Edge Solutions Group. "Our continuing
collaboration on 5G.MIL showcases new abilities to strengthen DoD
critical digital communications across Lockheed Martin's
platforms."
Dive Deeper
By implementing the HBS within a 3U/VPX rugged form factor,
Lockheed Martin demonstrated over-the-air 5G and tactical network
connectivity in a laboratory environment that is capable of
transitioning to military air vehicles. While most applications of
5G base station technology are data center centric, this
demonstration hosted 5G O-RAN technology on ruggedized computers
suitable for fighter and other aircraft, paving the way for the
team to fly on any number of military platforms
during upcoming crewed-uncrewed distributed teaming flight
tests.
The demonstration also leveraged 3rd Gen Intel Xeon
Scalable processors, which are designed to provide the greatest
performance per watt. These processors enable a low Size, Weight
and Power (SWaP) solution required by platforms operating at the
tactical edge, significantly reducing the amount of hardware
required to perform the same functionality.
What's Next?
This 3U/VPX HBS integration success positions the team for
crewed-uncrewed flight testing next year as part of Lockheed
Martin's Project Carrera. Additionally, Lockheed Martin and Intel
continue to explore how to best bridge current applications of 5G
commercial stacks with military datalinks to bring the most
capable, resilient communications solutions to the Department of
Defense. This includes next generation software defined radios
capable of commercial 5G, as well as future waveform
implementations to meet the objectives of crewed-uncrewed teaming.
These advancements pave the way for operators to have greater
connectivity, faster and more reliable networks, and enhanced
interoperability in support of Joint All Domain
Operations.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda,
Maryland, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a global security
and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 people
worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced
technology systems, products and services.
Please follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements
and news across the corporation.
Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of
Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics