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October 11, 2023

In an era where the boundaries between the physical battlefield and the digital realm are blurring, the 5G revolution promises to reshape military strategy on an unprecedented scale.
Fifth-generation (5G) mobile network technology for the military is intended to improve intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems and processing. Strengthen networking and security protocols. Streamline logistics operations between U.S. and allied forces. The use of 5G could lead to incredible advances, including augmented reality for militaries, expanded and instantaneous battlefield sensor networks, and drones that autonomously explore land, sea, and air.
As commercial 5G blueprints fit into a complex web of defense needs, factors such as open architecture, technical challenges, adapting commercial technologies to military use, and size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements remain central to the industry. It becomes.
But it’s clear why the defense industry is so focused on finding ways to implement 5G. Leon Gross, corporate vice president of Microchip Technology’s Discrete Products Division (Chandler, Ariz.), says the technology is a highly adaptable solution that can provide a major boost to the military in terms of data collection. “New generation…5G communication solution” [is] “It significantly increases the amount of information that can be shared to support real-time decision-making and other military applications,” he says. (Figure 1.)
Early 5G systems operating in bands below 6 GHz were susceptible to high-power jamming signals, but with the advent of 5G mmWave, [millimeter wave) systems – operating at 24 GHz and above frequencies – are poised to revolutionize battlefield communications, providing enhanced resilience against jamming, Gross says.
[Figure 1 | This graph shows Microchip’s GaN on SiC [gallium nitride on silicon carbide] MMIC [monolithic microwave integrated circuit] Linear gain across frequency and output power level for the power amplifier ICP2840. ]
These systems will enable capabilities such as “battlefield sensor networks for command and control data collection and augmented reality displays to enhance situational awareness for pilots and infantry,” and the expanded field of view of 5G will expand its use. It will also expand to “virtual,” Gross added. – Reality solutions for remote operation of vehicles in air (Unmanned Aircraft Systems or UAS), land and sea missions.
Erin Kokorek, vice president of advanced technology and strategy at CAES in Arlington, Virginia, said the most promising military applications include the expanded spectrum offered by 5G, as well as emerging spectrum (but not yet developed). ) points out the strategic use of (definition to be determined) 6G technology.
“Opened spectrum…is creating a larger ecosystem of devices and technologies that can be reused to create solutions for military purposes,” she says.
The main goal, Kocourek said, is to integrate this technology in a way that goes beyond the Department of Defense’s (DoD) traditional slow pace. The Internet of Things (IoT), powered by 4G and 5G, has immense potential when applied to military purposes, she says.
“We will leverage this to port data to systems and AI in close proximity to the warfighter. [artificial intelligence]“The possibilities for drive systems seem endless,” she asserts.
Bill McKechnie, marketing director at Analog Devices, Inc., Wilmington, Mass., said military 5G is being evaluated in all areas of Department of Defense operations, and commercial 5G technology is frequently used for military purposes. He added that it has been done. The advantage of using commercial 5G technology is its ease of use and the range it provides, he says.
“Currently, the Department of Defense has 5G testbeds in 14 locations and is evaluating more than 20 use cases,” McKenney said. “These include 5G augmented reality for medical training and telemedicine, ship-wide pier-to-pier connectivity, smart warehousing and logistics, and robust distributed command and control.”
Specific operational needs
Commercial 5G provides a blueprint, but military departments have specific operational needs that require a blend of commercial and specialized capabilities.
McKenney said the military is considering three key requirements that could be described as “beyond commercial.” It is a safe and reliable supply chain. Pre-approved secure bill of materials. Value-added applications and extensions to help you operationally.
Kevin Moyer, Product Manager Researchers at Times Microwave (Wallingford, Conn.) say the physical properties of the technology also need to be considered. As applications become so-called denser, the size of the cable assembly becomes of paramount importance.Rugged cable with IP67 rating, designed to meet military requirements [indicating that they’re “waterproof”] It becomes a necessity, she says. (Figure 2)
[Figure 2 | For higher-frequency applications of up to 30 GHz, Times Microwave offers MaxGain cables for high-power amplifiers.]
CAES Business Development Manager Randy Cordova says the military’s new operational demands pose a unique set of challenges.
“Battle used to be fought on land and sea,” he says. “Now we are fighting on land, sea, air, space, and cyber.”
This multi-domain front requires a seamless flow of vast amounts of data. The military wants to leverage his 5G for ISR and self-driving vehicles for purposes such as mapping and situational awareness.
To meet these demands, customers are now seeking designs that support unified all-domain command and control (JADC2), host AI capabilities, and process data with minimal latency, and are increasingly looking for 5G-enabled networks. has become the military’s top choice, Cordova said.
Baljit Chandhoke, product manager for RF products at Microchip Technologies, says the transition to 5G poses certain technical challenges that the company is working to solve. For example, “RF power amplifiers (PAs) must deliver high output power with high linear efficiency,” he says.
As a solution to these multifaceted requirements, GaN on SiC power amplifiers can operate at high frequencies in the Ka and Ku bands from 12 GHz to 40 GHz for satellite communications and 5G, providing wideband power with better thermal performance. It has breadth and high gain,” he added.
When is 4G enough?
As 5G is introduced into military applications, an important question arises: “Where does 4G fit in?”
Cordova says there is certainly still room for 4G, especially in areas that don’t need 5G. The decision about when to upgrade is closely tied to the value you provide to end users, he says.
“Putting a 5G sensor on a weapon that doesn’t need that capability provides no value to the warfighter,” he says. “Everything could move to his 5G, but not at the same time.”
In some cases, like the B-52, which has been in service since the 1950s, a system’s heritage dictates the pace of upgrades.
“Decisions will also be made based on the lifecycle of the components and systems,” Cordova said, suggesting that systems nearing the end of their lifespan may not be upgraded.
Cost is a big factor in deciding whether to upgrade or not. Moyer “The areas where 5G is less likely to be deployed are the areas where it is not cost-effective to make that change,” she says.
Further complexity emerges when considering potential bandwidth and frequency competition with commercial 5G. Moyer It suggests that the military must then make a strategic decision to “choose bands that will not clash.”
That said, McKenney said it’s likely the military will eventually lean completely toward 5G. “5G’s increased flexibility opens up opportunities for targeted applications to deliver significant enhancements that cannot be supported with 4G,” he says.
open architectural space
As 5G rapidly transforms defense technology, how do the universal questions of open architecture fit in? McKenney said the Department of Defense is strongly committed to keeping systems open as 5G rolls out. He said he would be interested. (Figure 3)
“5G Open RAN (open interface, not necessarily open source) has been approved by the Department of Defense,” he says. “[Open architecture] It provides flexibility for broader innovation, allowing a variety of companies to offer applications and enabling innovative solutions for military applications. ”
[Figure 3 | Analog Devices’ 8T8R RU design platform serves as a solution from the optical fronthaul to RF, which enables hardware and software customization for macro and small cell radio units.]
The Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) framework has become very important as “non-compliance can result in the award being revoked,” Cordova notes.
“MOSA’s acquisition strategy has led to an increase in requests for white papers, requests for information and, as a result, requests for proposals,” he says. “5G’s open system architecture drives standardization and increases opportunities for broader adoption. The open source philosophy also facilitates faster installation and integration, and future upgrades using a MOSA-driven approach It enables plug-and-play upgrades and maintenance.”
SWaP and 5G reduction
The US military has recently been constantly focused on reducing SWaP requirements for its systems, and this move has implications for the future of 5G.
“In aerospace and defense, some of the biggest growth opportunities are in satellite communications and emerging 5G communications solutions for both on- and off-the-battlefield applications,” said Microchip’s Gross. .
He emphasized NASA’s pivotal role in facilitating private sector efforts, enabling the agency to launch thousands of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites that advance a variety of services. I rate it as such.
“These RF applications consistently pursue SWaP-C: size, weight, power, and cost advantages,” he added.
Dean White, senior director of defense and aerospace at Qorvo (Greensboro, North Carolina), says linearity is important because the size and form factor of an RF device can impact linearity and robustness. It states that a larger device may be required if that is a requirement. (Figure 4)
“Durable and reliable components and packaging must be considered when devices are exposed to harsh and harsh environments,” he says.
[Figure 4 | Qorvo’s QPF4001 is a multifunction gallium nitride (GaN) MMIC front-end module targeted at 28 GHz phased-array 5G base stations and terminals.]
In some regions, the interaction between DoD requirements and 5G components has not yet materialized. Kocourek said CAES “does not believe that Department of Defense requirements are impacting 5G components; in fact, the opposite is true.”
In fact, innovations from the commercial sector, particularly 5G, are increasing the Department of Defense’s interest in reducing SWaP-C, she says.
The industry is currently trying to strike a balance between maintaining higher frequencies and meeting SWaP constraints. Moyer Say.
“Maintaining higher frequencies as SWaP requirements for these small antennas continue to tighten is a delicate balance,” she says, adding that coaxial cables and assemblies are “reliable, especially in tight spaces and harsh operating conditions. It will be essential to “maintain a high degree of interconnectivity.”
These same requirements are also driving commercial 5G solutions, McKechnie said. Analog Devices used “innovative technology” to reduce power requirements. He said that by incorporating more programmable features into modern transceivers, they have been able to reduce energy hotspots that require larger heat sinks, which ultimately leads to size and weight reductions. I am.