China unveils world’s first mobile 5G base station for battlefield use

China has revealed the world’s first mobile 5G base station, a cutting-edge development set to transform military communications.

After rigorous testing, this advanced technology is now ready for deployment on the battlefield, where it is expected to enhance the operational capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Caliber.Az reports via South China Morning Post.

Developed in collaboration with China Mobile Communications Group and the PLA, the mobile 5G base station provides high-speed, low-latency, and extremely secure data services to at least 10,000 users within a 3km (1.8 mile) radius. Designed to maintain connectivity in the most challenging conditions, the system ensures uninterrupted communication even as PLA troops advance at speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph) across complex terrains, such as mountains and urban areas, while enduring electromagnetic interference.

With a throughput of 10 gigabits per second and a latency of less than 15 milliseconds, the system is engineered to support the growing demands of modern warfare, where large-scale use of unmanned combat platforms is becoming increasingly prevalent. This technology paves the way for the integration of intelligent war machines, such as drones and robot dogs, which are expected to outnumber human soldiers on future battlefields. These unmanned units, while cost-effective and powerful, require robust communication systems to manage massive data exchanges between thousands of devices.

The technology, detailed in a peer-reviewed paper published on December 17 in Telecommunications Science, was developed by a project team led by senior engineer Hou Jie of the PLA’s 31567 Unit. The paper highlights the challenges of military communication, noting that existing systems cannot support the high-volume data needs of unmanned platforms.

Military 5G technology differs significantly from its civilian counterpart. The PLA requires uninterrupted connectivity even in the absence of ground base stations or compromised satellite signals. Furthermore, the base station’s antenna, which must not exceed 3 metres (9.8 feet) in height to avoid obstructions, presents unique challenges to maintaining the coverage range of high-quality signals.

By Vugar Khalilov