Nokia Federal Solutions and Lockheed Martin are moving 5G closer to battlefield use, aiming to give US forces secure, high-speed communications in contested environments.
The system combines Nokia’s advanced 5G technology with Lockheed Martin’s 5G.MIL solution under the US Department of Defense’s open-architecture framework.
It utilizes command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (C5ISR), and the modular open suite standard (CMOSS), an approach designed to simplify integration across vehicle and expeditionary systems.
In practice, this allows new capabilities to be added without redesigning entire systems, improving interoperability.
Once deployed, the network is expected to enable military vehicles and platforms to operate using 5G connectivity in real-world settings.
“Moving advanced communications from concept into the field requires discipline, scale, and an understanding of how defense systems are built and sustained,” said Sarah Hiza, senior vice president for technology and strategic innovation at Lockheed Martin.
“This collaboration is about rapidly delivering capability that can be deployed, sustained, and trusted over the long term.”
Scaling Battlefield Connectivity
The effort points to a hybrid communications network that connects mission-critical systems to a high-speed 5G network while maintaining the security required by soldiers.
As NATO nations increasingly adopt the 5G system, the CMOSS approach offers an additional pathway to integrate the technology into allied platforms through a modular framework.
The announcement builds on a 2025 partnership between the two companies focused on integrating Nokia’s 5G stack with Lockheed’s Hybrid Base Station.
The initiative also underscores a joint effort to deliver mission-ready technology that can be integrated quickly and adapted to changing operational needs.
