The pivot towards resilient military communication systems has taken center stage in discussions at the Pentagon, with defense giant L3Harris Technologies spearheading efforts to shape a concrete definition of what constitutes “resilient communications.” Amidst a landscape where commercial providers offer tempting cost-efficient solutions, L3Harris is advocating for standards that prioritize security and reliability, especially in potential high-threat environments.
Samir Mehta, the president of L3Harris’s communication systems, has been engaging with leadership from the Pentagon and Congress, emphasizing the need for a unified resilience standard. “Right now, you and I can go to a Cabela’s, we can buy a radio… and we can say it’s a form of resilient communication, because there’s no standard,” Mehta said. The urgency in Mehta’s message stems from concerns that budget pressures are driving defense leaders to opt for commercial communication systems that may not be secure or reliable enough for military operations against near-peer adversaries.
The example of SpaceX’s Starlink in Ukraine encapsulates the risk of relying too heavily on commercial systems. Though Starlink had considerable success in the conflict, it also brought to light the potential volatility of depending on commercial entities—especially those with complex international business interests. “Who do you trust?” Mehta asks, suggesting that the military should not be “entirely subject to the whims of one commercial owner of the company.”
Parallel to these efforts, L3Harris has not been idle in championing resilient solutions. With a “record backlog” for its Harris-branded radio unit, the company is transitioning its Rochester, New York, production facility to focus entirely on defense production, which should significantly increase output.
The push for resilience is not unfounded. With adversaries enhancing their electronic warfare capabilities, there’s a growing recognition that modern combat requires agile, secure, and reliable communication systems. Brig. Gen. Anthony W. Potts highlighted the importance of multiple transport layers and auto-PACE features in communications systems, which can automatically adjust to maintain integrity despite interference.
L3Harris’s Falcon® series of radios and advanced waveforms are at the forefront of providing these secure, resilient solutions. Their technology enables seamless multi-domain operations and real-time data-sharing, essential for modern warfare where electronic warfare plays a significant role. With lessons from Ukraine underscoring the need for robust communication networks, L3Harris’s products, like the AN/PRC-163, provide operators with resilience “a preset away,” according to Ryan Carr, L3Harris senior manager of Product Management.
The conversation around resilience also ties into broader discussions about intelligence gathering and the role of open-source information (OSINT). As Greg Ryckman from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) noted, the intel community is evolving from traditional, secret methods towards recognizing the primacy of OSINT. The DIA and other intelligence agencies are moving towards professionalizing open-source collection, acknowledging the shifting sands of intelligence work in an era marked by an overwhelming influx of information.
As modern conflicts continue to demonstrate the interconnectedness of technology and tactical success, the industry’s drive towards resilient communications is becoming a cornerstone of national defense. With L3Harris at the helm, it’s clear that the goal is not just to keep pace with technological advancements but to ensure that when the stakes are at their highest, communication networks remain the backbone of strategic operations.
Relevant articles:
– L3Harris lobbying DoD to create ‘resilience’ standard for communications, Breaking Defense
– L3Harris Delivers True Resiliency to Protect Communications Networks, L3Harris® Fast. Forward.
– US intelligence needs ‘professional cadre’ for OSINT to replace ‘amateur’ IC analysts: Official, Breaking Defense
– Resilient Networks for Persevering National Defense, L3Harris® Fast. Forward.