Executive Summary
This Naval Postgraduate School research explores developing and employing a 5G microwave cloud for at-sea operations, aiming to reduce reliance on vulnerable satellite communications. It investigates integrating 5G with manned and unmanned platforms for sensing, targeting, and decision support. Experiments demonstrated 5G's potential as a localized, high-bandwidth tactical network, though performance was sensitive to range and environmental factors.
Why It Matters
This document is crucial for defense analysts as it details efforts to establish resilient, high-bandwidth communication networks for naval operations, directly addressing vulnerabilities in satellite communications and enabling advanced unmanned systems integration.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Navy is exploring architected 5G networks for at-sea operations to reduce reliance on vulnerable satellite communications and support unmanned systems.
Source evidence · PDF page 3
This research explores how an architected 5G network could be developed for at-sea operations, and for concepts of operations (CONOPS) that integrate it with both manned and unmanned platforms.
- 5G shows promise as a localized, high-bandwidth tactical network for rapid data exchange among naval vessels and unmanned systems within its effective coverage envelope.
Source evidence · PDF page 5
The data supports the use of 5G as a localized, high-bandwidth tactical network that can enable rapid data exchange when vessels or unmanned systems are within the effective coverage envelope.
- Experimental results indicate high timeliness and reliability for 5G at short ranges, but throughput and persistence were moderate, with performance sensitive to range and environmental conditions.
Source evidence · PDF page 4
For TTF, timeliness and reliability were assessed as high. Throughput and persistence were graded as moderate. The link remained usable at short range, but, as range increased, retransmissions reduced reliability.
Strategic Relevance
Developing a robust, localized 5G network at sea is strategically important for enhancing naval command and control, enabling distributed maritime operations, and ensuring communication resilience in contested environments, particularly for integrating unmanned systems into fleet operations.