5G COMPAD Demonstrated Advanced Military Communication Capabilities in Germany

The 5G COMPAD project conducted a live demonstration on 17 September 2025 at the German Army Combat Training Centre in Letzlingen, Germany, where Rheinmetall, SAAB, Thales and Leonardo showcased advanced 5G military capabilities, focusing on interoperability, secure communications, and resilient operations in GNSS-denied environments.

The 5G COMPAD (5G Communications for Peacekeeping and Defence) project marked a major milestone with a comprehensive live demonstration of mission-ready 5G technologies at the German Army Combat Training Centre in Letzlingen, Germany. Held on 17 September 2025, the event brought together major European defence and telecommunications partners to assess the operational potential of 5G in complex military scenarios.

The demonstration highlighted seamless interoperability between tactical radios and smartphones from various EU member states, as well as the ability to transition smoothly between public and military networks. Capabilities for integration into existing tactical systems and sustained communications in GNSS-denied environments—where GPS and satellite signals are disrupted—were a core focus of the exercise.

Participants showcased advanced applications designed to enhance combat readiness and decision-making through real-time broadband data, Blue Force Tracking (BFT), Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), and shared situational awareness. These capabilities support the coordination of multiple emergency and tactical units under demanding operational conditions.

A Rheinmetall representative commented,

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to the German Army Combat Training Centre for its impressive support during the Global Land Demonstration in Germany. The digitisation of the European armed forces is progressing. As part of this modernisation, secure and mobile communication is becoming a strategic necessity. This is where 5G comes in. As the backbone of future mission networks, 5G enables fast, reliable and scalable connectivity that meets the requirements of modern and future operations.”

The demonstration was staged at one of Europe’s most advanced military training facilities. As part of the program, the German Army conducted an urban operations exercise at Schnöggersburg, illustrating both the practical application of 5G technologies and the realistic training environments used to prepare forces for modern conflict.

Organised by leading 5G COMPAD partners, including Rheinmetall, SAAB, Thales, and Leonardo, the event also featured contributions from CNIT, Nokia, Ericsson, Inster, and Cafa Tech. In total, 19 European defence companies are contributing to COMPAD’s mission of developing sovereign European 5G solutions for use on land, at sea, and in the air.

Launched in December 2022 and co-funded by the European Union, the 36-month 5G COMPAD project aims to ensure information superiority and cross-border interoperability for EU armed forces. Key industrial and research participants include Saab, Ericsson, Rheinmetall, Bittium, Nokia, Thales, Leonardo, Inster, Eight Bells, Intracom Defense (IDE), CAFA Tech, Telenor, Sintef, FFI (NO Gov), LMT, AIT, Synkzone, BHE, and APR Technologies, alongside subcontractors CNIT, Fraunhofer FKIE, CEA, and Space Hellas SA.

The insights gained from this demonstration underscore the strategic importance of 5G as the communications backbone for future European defence operations.