The U.S. Army wants to implement new waveform technologies in its tools to reduce adversaries’ chances of interfering with communications. (Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Armando R. Limon/Army)
The U.S. Army is continuously developing capabilities for the service branch’s tactical network team. One of which involves implementing new waveform technologies in its tools to reduce adversaries’ chances of interfering with communications. The organization handling future capabilities has numerous efforts ongoing with millimeter-wave technology, a frequency channel that could improve future communications.
Additionally, the Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command’s C5ISR (Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Center is exploring top-secret communication capabilities.
The service is looking into WiGig first, the most recent WiFi version that utilizes the 60GHz frequency band. WiGig appeals to the service because it allows narrow beams that point in a certain direction, which helps the Army’s command posts evade detection.
This technology is part of the Army’s capability process, packages of new network tools the tactical network team delivers to soldiers every two years. WiGig technologies are aimed toward capability set ’25. It improves data rates, allowing some systems to receive up to gigabits per second of data flow, surpassing existing capabilities.
The C5ISR Center is collaborating with two companies to work on two millimeter-wave technologies. Their goal is to solve mobility and range challenges with stationary routers designed for houses with a range of several meters.
Through work with FIRST RF, the Army reconfigured a commercial technology that allowed them to extend the range from meters to kilometers. The radio was also provided with antijam capabilities from a combination of custom software and antennas. Now, the service is exploring ways to use this technology for its distributed command post or manned-unmanned teaming.
Collins Aerospace is also working with the R&D outfit to develop a custom waveform in the 30GHz range, which targets manned-unmanned teaming between air assets.
The iPhone models have mmWave 5G antennas, which are only available in the United States. Apple plans on launching its iPhone 13 models with mmWave 5G antennas to non-US markets. (Image Credit: Apple)
Apple is also using mmWave 5G in its iPhone 12 models. However, it’s only available to consumers in the United States. Those who own an iPhone 12 and are outside the U.S. can only use a sub-6GHz antenna. This isn’t a huge issue, especially since 5G connectivity isn’t available worldwide yet. The good news is that Apple plans on launching its iPhone 13 models with mmWave 5G antennas to more countries outside the U.S. this year.
Qiqi, a Taiwanese company, is receiving a large order for the iPhone 13 mmWave antennas. Apple’s mmWave 5G antennas are manufactured by Murata Manufacturing, which plans on sharing orders with Qiqi for the iPhone 13. Additionally, Apple is working with worldwide telecom companies to expand mmWave iPhones over the next few years.
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