Nokia Defense and KNDS announced a collaboration to deliver advanced connectivity for soldiers and unmanned vehicles.
The companies said the partnership is designed to address critical communication gaps on the modern battlefield by extending high-bandwidth 5G connectivity beyond combat vehicles to troops and autonomous systems in the field.
The collaboration integrates the Nokia Banshee Deployable Solution into the KNDS VBCI armored infantry fighting vehicle. The integration is intended to support seamless, real-time connectivity as forces transition from armored vehicles into complex mission environments.
Modern defense operations increasingly depend on continuous communication across manned and unmanned systems. Nokia Defense and KNDS said maintaining reliable connectivity beyond the vehicle remains a key operational challenge.
By extending secure and high-speed 5G connectivity from combat vehicles to soldiers and robotic systems, the companies aim to enable continuous data exchange in contested scenarios and improve coordination across deployed forces.
Nokia Defense’s Banshee deployable 5G-based technology is built for demanding operational conditions. The solution is designed to deliver high-capacity, low-latency, secure, and resilient connectivity to improve situational awareness and mission coordination.
The system’s flexible design also enables rapid deployment in areas where communications infrastructure is limited or unavailable.
KNDS is a pan-European land defense company, while Nokia Defense provides tactical communications and deployable network capabilities for defense use cases.
KEY QUOTES:
“Defense operations depend on reliable, real-time data wherever militaries operate. This collaboration with KNDS shows how high-performance connectivity can move with the mission. By extending Nokia 5G networks beyond the vehicle, we are giving soldiers and autonomous systems the ability to operate more effectively in complex environments.”
Ari Kynäslahti, Head of Nokia Defense
“At Eurosatory, we are showcasing how connectivity is becoming a core enabler of future land operations. Together with Nokia Defense, a partner selected for its technological leadership in tactical communications, we are demonstrating how next-generation tactical communications can be fully integrated into our combat-proven VBCI and deployed where needed, improving operational outcomes on today’s and future battlefield.”
Nicolas Groult, CEO of KNDS France
