Linking Independent 5G Bubbles Using Tactical IP Radios—Part I: Laboratory Deployment and Testing

In the realm of military operations, this research paper investigates the complex implications surrounding the integration of fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology, aiming to serve the enhanced and diverse military user requirements for established Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning in modern-era military environments. This work presents a testing campaign conducted within a controlled laboratory environment, aimed at facilitating the interconnection of two independent 5G networks (5G Bubbles), through the utilization of a conventional military Internet Protocol (IP) radio. The testing campaign was executed as part of the 5G COMPAD Project, co-funded by the European Union through the European Defence Fund (EDF). The core objective of the campaign was to demonstrate that text, voice and video services can be efficiently provisioned and sustained between 5G User Equipments (UEs) situated within these independent 5G Bubbles, interconnected solely via a standard military IP radio. Various performance metrics were defined, measured and evaluated during the testing campaign, while the results indicate that legacy military radios and 5G systems can be successfully integrated, thereby offering robust support for the diverse communication needs of tactical units, despite the performance constraints set by military links. The main contribution of this study is the practical integration of commercial 5G components with existing military communication assets, marking the first European experimental campaign in this domain. This effort provides critical insights into the feasibility and performance of linking independent 5G Bubbles over legacy military infrastructure in realistic defense-oriented scenarios.