Lockheed Martin [LMT] has introduced a new 3G broadband network for the military that will enable any government approved, commercially available smart phone to link in and use the system.
Company representatives have been taking the MONAX 3G cell phone network system to various tradeshows to demonstrate its utility. While it is designed for warfighters in theater, the system is ideal for public safety, homeland security and border protection, Glenn Kurowski, MONAX program director, says at a briefing for reporters earlier this month.
On the battlefield the military can’t expect to have fixed sites to install its cell base stations. So the commercial 3G network can be set up in aerostats, vehicles and aircraft, Kurowski says. The capability enables any currently available smart phone to link into the network using an interface sleeve called MONAX Lynx.
The sleeve provides additional battery capability and the connectivity to the network.
The MONAX technology is about connecting the dismounted warfighter at the first tactical mile, Kurowski says. Seeing how warfighters are carrying more gear for single purpose use, Lockheed Martin engineers wanted to see if they could come up with a solution for a single device with multiple applications for a soldier with multiple jobs, he says.
MONAX brings distance and range required for operations and the network won’t jam existing commercially available networks in places such as Afghanistan, Kurowski says.
Lockheed currently has no contracts with military although the base station and Lynx are both available on the General Services Administration’s schedule, Kurowski says. The point of the company’s recent announcement was to advertise that the product capability is now available to be acquired, he says.