As the capabilities of commercial wireless systems and technology is advancing exponentially, the technology gap between them and the military tactical communications systems is widening. Huge product-oriented investments and standardization efforts by the commercial telecommunications industry has enabled 4G wireless along with the global standard, Long Term Evolution (LTE) to achieve peak data rate capabilities approximately ten times greater than third Generation Wireless Systems.
4G LTE also achieves low latencies of less than 20 ms for real time services. The diverse family of cost effective end-user terminals with high processing capacity like Smartphones and tablets with reduced size, weight, and power are also becoming available. The latest security features are being incorporated in this standard. US DOD The DoD has been actively exploring how to securely leverage these commercial systems, technologies, innovations and applications more effectively in its missions.
The Army is introducing 4G to the battlefield as part of a new collection of advanced commercial technologies, including first responder capabilities and Wi-Fi for command posts, the Army said in an announcement in 2014. “Soldiers and commanders in tactical operations centers need more bandwidth for data-intensive tasks like sending large PowerPoint files, maps and full motion video,” said Lt. Col. Joel Babbitt, product manager for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical, which is responsible for fielding the new equipment.
Navy already has made it clear it wants to bring high-speed connectivity to sea. As early as 2012 it was running afloat trials of 4G LTE. More recently, in 2016 a $16 million demonstration put LTE on a pair of vessels operating in the Persian Gulf: the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge and the transport dock San Antonio.
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