Lockheed Martin eyes military 5G networking; calls on the Pentagon to reimburse companies for research

Aug. 19, 2020
Taiclet’s selection to become CEO was viewed by some as a desire to change the way the company operates and adopt more commercial business practices.

BETHESDA, Md. – The new CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp. wants to help build 5G networking that the Pentagon can use to connect all its weapons and retain military advantage over China. American Military News reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

19 Aug. 2020 -- Jim Taiclet doesn't unveil many details, but the former telecom executive says he wants the firm to adopt “tech industry practices and maybe some new partnerships in technologies,” a shift for a company with revenues that turn largely on weapon sales.

“I’ve got an idea called 5G.mil that we’re going to try to figure out how to create and really bring that technology ... into our space and drive performance at this company as a result of that,” Taiclet says.

Taiclet, who spent most of the past two decades as CEO of American Tower, which specializes in wireless communications infrastructure, says the Pentagon needs to incentivize companies to invest in areas like 5G by reimbursing firms for their research and development.

Related: Military researchers approach industry for 5G technologies for future deployable simulation and training

Related: DOD budget pushing house cleaning pivot to leading-edge technologies: out with the old and in with the new

Related: Air Force asking industry for next generation of directional communications for tactical airborne networking

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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