Charles Lyons-Burt
Northrop Grumman and AT&T have strategically partnered to plan and grow a digital battle network for the Department of Defense.
The project will harness AT&T’s 5G network capabilities and Northrop’s modernized mission strategies to help strengthen the DOD’s Joint All Domain Command and Control function, the telecommunications company said Tuesday.
“Our 5G capabilities can help the Department of Defense achieve operational and information advantage when it matters most – protecting our country and freedoms around the globe,” commented Lance Spencer, client executive vice president-defense for AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet.
According to Ben Davies, vice president and general manager of the networked information solutions division at Northrop, the collaboration combines defense and commercial communication capabilities in an effort to meet JADC2 requirements.
Davies added that 5G offers “enhanced connectivity and networking of information” that will aid the creation of fast-acting technologies able to disseminate data across an array of outputs.
Northrop and AT&T’s collaboration is supposed to yield a customizable open architecture service that will unite intercommunicative sensors, shooters and data sourced from various domains, terrains and forces. The approach is not unlike when devices are connected via Internet of Things.
The collaboration’s plan also entails a joint research and development effort wherein the organizations will combine AT&T’s commercial 5G network facilities with Northrop’s arsenal of flight and defense technological capabilities. They will develop a prototype and then test its effectiveness. The project team intends to fuse the high speeds and cybersecurity fortitude of AT&T’s private 5G network with the malleability of its commercial network.
The partnership with Northrop and the DOD follows AT&T FirstNet’s release of a series of new tools and features for first responders in March. Among the unveiled technologies were mini cell towers for indoor use enhancement, compact rapid deployables and emergency response kits.
