OKLAHOMA CITY — October 29, 2025 — Skydweller Aero has been awarded a U.S. Navy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract in partnership with Nokia Federal Solutions to demonstrate an airborne Beyond 5G communication hub. The contract will showcase secure, resilient connectivity in contested and infrastructure-limited environments.
Advancing the “Beyond 5G” Navy Contract and Airborne Connectivity
The project, titled “Intelligent Radio Access Network for Beyond 5G Resilient Tactical Networks,” will leverage Skydweller Aero’s Perpetual Flight® solar-powered aircraft to host a 5G Network-in-a-Box. This airborne hub provides rapid, deployable infrastructure, ensuring reliable, low-latency communications wherever terrestrial networks are unavailable.
“This program demonstrates how Skydweller’s autonomous aircraft can deliver faster, more flexible connectivity while reducing cost and complexity,” said Robert Miller, CEO of Skydweller Aero.
By integrating Nokia Federal’s Banshee Flex Radio, a ruggedized 5G private wireless system, the solution enables persistent, adaptive tactical communications for both manned and unmanned systems.
Supporting the Navy’s Distributed Maritime Operations
The Skydweller Aero Navy contract supports the U.S. Navy’s Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) concept and aligns with the Department of Defense’s CJADC2 initiative. Together, Skydweller Aero and Nokia Federal are redefining how airborne 5G connectivity can extend secure, real-time networks across maritime and joint operational environments.
About Skydweller Aero
Skydweller Aero is a transatlantic aerospace company developing solar-powered, autonomous aircraft capable of perpetual flight with heavy payloads. Headquartered in Oklahoma City with European offices in Spain, Skydweller delivers next-generation endurance platforms for ISR, communications, and defense applications.
Learn more at www.skydwelleraero.com.
About Nokia Federal Solutions
Nokia Federal Solutions builds secure, scalable networks for mission success. Leveraging innovations from Nokia Bell Labs, the company provides advanced 5G private and tactical wireless networks tailored for U.S. government agencies. Through trusted partnerships and technology leadership, Nokia Federal is modernizing federal network infrastructure for the future of connected operations.