Northrop Grumman Corporation, a technology company, and AT&T have started a collaboration with the goal of researching and developing a digital battle network. This would be in an effort to support the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and powered by AT&T 5G and Northrop Grumman’s advanced mission systems.
Northrop Grumman and AT&T’s plan is based on a cost-effective, scalable, open architecture solution. They will help the DoD connect distributed sensors, shooters and data from all domains, terrains and forces – think of it like how your smart devices connect and share data from our day to day activities.
This digital battle network is expected to bring together the high speeds, low latency and cybersecurity protections of private 5G networks with the flexibility and scalability of AT&T’s commercial 5G capabilities. It will also offer a critical capability to support the DoD’s vision for Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2).
“Our collaboration with AT&T brings together some of the best capabilities in defense and commercial communications to meet the evolving requirements of JADC2,” said Ben Davies, vice president and general manager, Networked Information Solutions division, Northrop Grumman. “The enhanced connectivity and networking of information that 5G provides are a great advantage in a military environment and will help the DoD in the development of high-performing and intuitive technologies that quickly and seamlessly share data across a myriad of secure networks.”
“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,” said Lance Spencer, Client Executive Vice President-Defense, AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet. “By bringing our 5G services together with Northrop Grumman’s powerful avionics and defense systems, we expect to create an ideal platform to deliver DoD’s JADC2 vision.”
The agreement establishes a joint research and development framework to prototype, demonstrate and test AT&T’s commercial 5G networking capabilities integrated with Northrop Grumman’s robust portfolio of capabilities that are at the forefront of military technological advancement that enable the Joint Force. For more information, visit Northrop Grumman’s JADC2 webpage or go here to learn more about AT&T’s work in the public sector.