Lockheed Martin, Nokia, and Verizon Advance Defense Capabilities Through 5G.MIL® Collaboration

Rhea-AI Summary

Lockheed Martin (LMT), Nokia (NOK), and Verizon (VZ) have successfully integrated Nokia's military-grade 5G solutions into Lockheed Martin's 5G.MIL® Hybrid Base Station (HBS). The collaboration advances capabilities to merge commercial 5G connections with military communications systems.

The integration was demonstrated across multiple locations, including Verizon's Boston Innovation Center, Lockheed Martin's Valley Forge laboratory, and their Ft. Worth facility. The system showcased HBS connectivity to hybrid user equipment (HUE), enabling users to switch between commercial 5G and tactical LPx waveforms while maintaining uninterrupted application sessions on Android devices.

The partnership will continue at Lockheed Martin's 5G.MIL Experimental Network site in Orlando, Florida, focusing on expanding hybrid network testing to include additional user devices, broader tactical communication system interoperability, and secure public-private network configurations.

Positive

• Strategic partnership with major telecom players Nokia and Verizon strengthens LMT's defense capabilities
• Successful integration demonstrates technological leadership in military communications
• Open systems architecture enables rapid integration of new capabilities without vendor lock-in
• Positions LMT for expanded market opportunities in military and national security networks

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

This successful integration between Lockheed Martin, Nokia, and Verizon represents a strategically significant advancement in defense communications technology. The collaboration merges Nokia's military-grade 5G solutions with Lockheed's 5G.MIL Hybrid Base Station while incorporating Verizon's network management capabilities.

What makes this particularly noteworthy is the open systems architecture approach they've adopted. This open standard implementation creates an expandable platform free from vendor lock-in issues—a critical differentiator in defense contracting where interoperability and adaptability command premium valuations. The focus on seamless switching between commercial 5G and tactical waveforms addresses a important military need for resilient communications in contested environments.

For investors following these companies, this collaboration positions all three firms advantageously within the Department of Defense's Joint All Domain Operations framework—a key spending priority. The successful demonstration across multiple facilities (Boston, Pennsylvania, Texas) indicates this technology has progressed beyond conceptual stages toward deployment readiness. The planned expansion to Lockheed's experimental network site in Orlando further suggests preparations for customer demonstrations and field testing.

While no specific contract values or timelines are mentioned, this integration creates a compelling value proposition by combining Lockheed's defense integration expertise, Nokia's specialized 5G technology, and Verizon's network capabilities into a unified offering for military customers seeking advanced, secure communications solutions.

Tech Expert

The technical achievement demonstrated in this collaboration addresses one of the most challenging problems in modern military operations—creating secure, interoperable communications between commercial and tactical networks while maintaining low probability of detection and exploitation.

The integrated system's ability to provide uninterrupted user application sessions while switching between network types (commercial 5G and LPx waveforms) is particularly significant. This functionality, delivered through the Hybrid User Equipment (HUE), solves a persistent technical challenge that has battlefield network flexibility. Traditional military communications systems often operate in isolated network environments, while commercial systems lack necessary security features—this integration bridges that gap.

Nokia's contribution of military-grade 5G solutions optimized for size, weight, and power efficiency addresses critical deployment constraints in tactical environments. The incorporation of O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network) compatible technology aligns with defense modernization priorities that favor multi-vendor solutions over proprietary systems.

What's technically innovative is the integration testing across multiple specialized facilities: Verizon's Boston Innovation Center provided the commercial network expertise, while Lockheed's labs in Pennsylvania and Texas handled systems integration and tactical components. This distributed development approach demonstrates the complexity and sophistication of the integration achievement.

For defense applications, the enhanced capabilities in low-latency communications and real-time data processing enable advanced situational awareness—a competitive advantage in modern warfare that traditional communications systems cannot deliver at comparable scale or speed.

Demonstration advances interoperability of commercial 5G connections with military
communications systems

Successfully integrated Nokia's military-grade 5G solutions and Verizon network management
capabilities into Lockheed Martin 5G.MIL hybrid base station

BETHESDA, Md., March 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Nokia (NYSE: NOK), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) today announced the successful integration of Nokia's industry-leading, military-grade 5G solutions into Lockheed Martin's 5G.MIL® Hybrid Base Station (HBS). The technology advances new capabilities to integrate commercial 5G connections with military communications systems to provide decisive information for national defense. 5G is playing an expanding role in supporting tactical military missions, seamlessly complementing existing battlefield solutions.

Expert Perspectives
"The United States and its allies increasingly depend on fast, secure and advanced communications to access critical information and ensure effective deterrence against threats," said John Clark, senior vice president, Lockheed Martin Technology & Strategic Innovation. "5G.MIL® integrations like this strategic relationship with Nokia and Verizon will help ensure data is seamlessly routed throughout the battlespace in ways that make future mission success possible."

"This successful integration highlights the flexibility of Nokia's cutting-edge, 5G solutions to meet the unique demands of defense, ensuring robust security, optimized size, weight, and power efficiency, while supporting O-RAN and open, interoperable technologies," said Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia. "Through our work with Lockheed Martin and Verizon, we are bringing the transformative power of 5G to mission-critical defense operations, enhancing situational awareness, speeding up decision-making, and reinforcing mission success."

Dive Deeper
In a series of recent demonstrations, Lockheed Martin integrated Nokia's military-grade 5G solutions into the 5G.MIL Unified Network Solutions ecosystem, including interoperability with Verizon's network operations and management solutions. These tests successfully integrated traditional tactical communications solutions with 5G using open systems architecture and commercial standards. Leveraging open standards in this way allows for rapid integration of new, advanced capabilities into HBS configurations, ensuring new products and technology solutions are drop-in ready with no risk of vendor lock.

Initial integration was completed with equipment from Nokia's leading 5G portfolio at Verizon's Boston Innovation Center and HBS components at Lockheed Martin's Valley Forge laboratory in Pennsylvania. Final systems integration, testing and demonstration were accomplished at Lockheed Martin's facility in Ft. Worth, Texas.

The demonstration included HBS connectivity to hybrid user equipment (HUE) that allows users to switch access links between commercial 5G and tactical LPx waveforms while maintaining uninterrupted user application sessions on an Android user device. LPX designates low-probability-of-detection, interception, exploitation, jamming, geolocation and spoofing. By integrating the 5G.MIL HBS with Nokia's 5G solutions, as well as demonstrating interoperability with Verizon's public 5G network and leveraging their network operations management software, Lockheed Martin and its strategic collaborators are well positioned to bring new levels of performance, scalability, and reliability to military, national security wireless, and ally international defense networks.

What's Next?
This strategic collaboration for Lockheed Martin, Nokia, and Verizon will enable continuing integration of new technology advancements, including incorporation of Nokia's 5G technology at Lockheed Martin's 5G.MIL Experimental Network site in Orlando, Florida, joining Verizon's capabilities already available on-site. With 5G's low latency, high bandwidth, and secure connectivity, warfighters can leverage real-time data and advanced situational awareness in dynamic operational environments. The team will continue to refine and enhance technical offerings, including expanding hybrid network testing to include additional user device types, broader tactical communication system interoperability, and secure public-private network configurations. This will create new ways for customers to apply enhanced capabilities to global military, national security, and homeland defense mission areas, giving operators greater connectivity, faster and more reliable wireless networks, and enhanced interoperability in support of Joint All Domain Operations. 

About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at www.lockheedmartin.com.

About Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin

FAQ

What is the significance of the Nokia-Lockheed Martin 5G.MIL integration for defense capabilities?

The integration enables seamless connection between commercial 5G and military communications, providing enhanced battlefield solutions and decisive information for national defense through secure, high-speed connectivity.

Where was the LMT-Nokia 5G integration testing conducted?

Testing was conducted at Verizon's Boston Innovation Center, Lockheed Martin's Valley Forge laboratory in Pennsylvania, and their Ft. Worth, Texas facility.

What are the key features of the LMT 5G.MIL Hybrid Base Station?

The HBS allows switching between commercial 5G and tactical LPx waveforms while maintaining uninterrupted sessions, offering enhanced security and interoperability with military communications systems.

What are the next steps for the LMT-Nokia-Verizon 5G collaboration?

The partnership will expand testing at LMT's Orlando facility, focusing on additional user devices, broader tactical communication interoperability, and secure public-private network configurations.