The project, titled Intelligent Radio Access Network for Beyond 5G Resilient Tactical Networks, will use Skydweller's Perpetual Flight solar-powered autonomous aircraft to support a reconfigurable communication system. This airborne solution aims to provide a deployable 5G Network-in-a-Box delivering robust, low-latency connectivity where infrastructure is limited or unavailable.
Robert Miller, CEO of Skydweller Aero, said, "Increasingly, the remote locations where the US must project force will lack the infrastructure to support modern communications. This program demonstrates how Skydweller's autonomous, perpetual aircraft can deliver 'instantaneous infrastructure' - giving our customers faster, more flexible connectivity while reducing cost and complexity compared with traditional solutions."
Nokia Federal will supply its Banshee Flex Radio - a ruggedized 5G private wireless solution initially designed for tactical use and now adapted for airborne operations. Scott Ferguson, Chief Revenue Officer of Nokia Federal Solutions, said, "By combining Nokia's state-of-the-art 5G technology with Skydweller's solar-powered, long-endurance aircraft, we're unlocking secure, resilient, and high-speed tactical communications from ground to air."
The contract explores how this technology can enable adaptive, resilient tactical networks to support both manned and unmanned systems within the Navy's Distributed Maritime Operations concept. It may also align with the Department of Defense's Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiatives.
The Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) awarded this SBIR Phase I contract, covering November 2025 through November 2026. The contract value was not disclosed.
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