See any problem with this 18E's ?
 

https://www.military.com/daily-news/...-man-suit.html

The goal is to give operators the same capability they have with commercial smartphones in the United States while they are operating anywhere in the world, said Lisa Sanders, director of Science and Technology for Special Operations Forces, Acquisition, Technology & Logistics.

"If I move from a particular partner nation that I am working with or a particular area of the world to another area of the world, I want the same ability that I would have back in the United States at my duty station in my forward location," she said. "It may not be a tactical network; we may be looking to leverage what is available commercially in an area of operations. ... Why would we want to go to a commercial network? Because maybe that is what the partner that we are working with is on, and we need to be able to communicate effectively with them."

The old days were pretty nice when nobody knew where you were unless you told them.

What she is talking about is SkyNet/SkyLink

Seriously, We (the world) need to move communications off the telephone pole to satellites.

Until such time as it's all moved we need a combo system of local networks and secured mil-spec satellites.

Because the "local" copper system is NOT,, the "secured" would need to be built into the handheld, but this is doable now..

The Muskrat is already putting up a system to eliminate the copper system.


I suspect Ms Sanders has talked to the Muskrat??
Is Ms Sanders related to The Bern?


My $00.000002 :munchin

Off the top,

Couple of things that we see, and we are seeing CONUS with LTE Broadband. Ubiquitous coverage is expected (not even going to get into the exponential increase 5G requires). Terrestrial and space-based networks have dead spots at the micro level even in Western metropolitan areas. The NOC isn't going to show them on a map but operationally you'll find them. Pushing that much computing with near-real-time data consumption and some form of AI to increase fidelity in decision making requires a network that is dang near ubiquitous with "5-9's" availability and reliability. So if your macro network coverage can be suspect, then you have to have mobile edge-computing to increase speeds and allow for off-network functionality if you lose macro.

Next, you have to power it all. Disposable batteries? How many of those do you need and are there batteries small enough to fit a mobile device that will run that much processing? A 5,000 mAh rechargeable battery MAY do the trick depending on the load requirements but then you're dependent upon electrical power to recharge whether you're generating it in the field or plugging into commercial power.

Then there is maintenance and life-cycle. Current mobile tech has an obsolescence rate of about 3 years whether that is just marketing (you gotta have the latest and greatest phone that looks exactly like the one you have) or technically with OS updates and processor speeds. These devices don't get repaired, you just toss them so how much does a rugged "whatever" weigh and how current is the tech inside it going to have?

DoD mobile device and OS approvals tend to be a few iterations behind so what's the chance of having a ruggedized, cutting-edge, edge-computing device with very high processing speeds and surreal battery life in an environment with a high throughput, reliable, available and resilient mobile network?

Sure:munchin

Well, so much for not giving your correct grid coordinate correctly on you ANGUS report anymore...."they'll" always know where you are...:eek:

OK, that's damned funny. and true.

deleted

ANGUS report that's such a outdated concept. Better to send a Whatsapp text with your selfie (unsecured of course) then everyone will know your exact location no need to not keep in-touch with all your fiends and co-workers when on the big mission.
While your at it send a tweet shout out to the president during execution :D

Ubiquitous coverage?
 

Anyone who thinks that there is ubiquitous cell coverage (never mind LTE or 5G) in the USA needs to get a little further off the Interstate.
We live on a boat - cell coverage is OK when you're in town at the marina, and not bad in those big harbors - but if you get a little further out, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I keep thinking I should put an antenna up on top of the mast at 67', but I'm told that is no panacea either.

Back when we lived in Arizona , it wasn't hard to get away from cell signals at all - once you get away from the cities and Interstate highway. My experience in rural Maine has been similar.

WHERE U R - It does make a difference.

I have mentioned in the past, in the Florida Keys after hurricane Georges in 98', there was a series of comm towers(300 ft?) erected, able to sustain 250 MPH wind loads. The hight gave us cell service offshore for 30 miles. Unfortunately, this was a rather unique setup.

It now looks like they have instigated Keys Wi-Fi using the same tower system.

http://keyswifi.com/locations.html