BBN Wins US DoD Contract for Radar and 5G Coexistence Project

Why It Matters

The technology safeguards critical national‑security radar operations while unlocking additional 5G spectrum, accelerating both defence readiness and commercial network growth.

Key Takeaways

• BBN leads DoD smart spectrum coexistence program
• Real-time manager reduces interference response from minutes to seconds
• Targets 50% more 5G capacity, 20 dB radar interference cut
• Cloud or edge deployment enables flexible operational rollout
• Partners include Raytheon, Ericsson, Purdue, and Federated Wireless

Pulse Analysis

The explosion of 5G services has crowded the radio‑frequency bands traditionally reserved for defense radar, creating a dilemma for both national security and commercial connectivity. Historically, spectrum managers required minutes to detect and mitigate interference, a latency that can jeopardize mission‑critical radar tracking and degrade user experience on 5G networks. Recognizing this tension, the U.S. Department of Defense, through the National Spectrum Consortium, commissioned RTX’s BBN Technologies to spearhead an Advanced Spectrum Coexistence Demonstration. The program seeks a seamless, real‑time solution that allows radars and 5G cells to share frequencies without compromising performance.

The first phase will deliver a smart‑spectrum manager that can sense radar emissions, predict 5G interference, and reroute traffic within seconds—far faster than existing tools that take minutes. Leveraging machine‑learning models from Purdue University and real‑time analytics from Novowi, the system will autonomously apply rule‑based decisions, minimizing human oversight. Raytheon supplies high‑fidelity radar test equipment, while Ericsson contributes 5G network expertise, and Federated Wireless provides dynamic spectrum‑allocation algorithms. Together, these components form an integrated platform capable of achieving a 20 dB reduction in unwanted radar noise and a thousand‑fold boost in concurrent link quality.

The contract’s performance targets—50 % more usable 5G capacity, 20 dB interference suppression, and a 1,000‑fold link‑quality improvement—promise tangible benefits for both defense and commercial operators. By enabling cloud‑or‑edge deployment, the solution can scale across the DoD’s dispersed installations while offering telecom carriers a pathway to unlock additional spectrum without costly re‑licensing. Successful demonstration could set a new industry standard for dynamic spectrum sharing, accelerating the rollout of 5G‑enabled IoT, autonomous vehicles, and mission‑critical communications. Investors and policymakers will watch closely as BBN’s prototype moves toward operational status.