Skydweller Aero, in partnership with Nokia Federal Solutions and Tangram Flex, has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract to demonstrate a rapidly deployable airborne private network — essentially a flying 5G cell tower. The technology could provide flexible communication for military and commercial operations.
The initiative, officially titled “Instantaneous Network Infrastructure: Rapid-Deployment of Airborne Private Network on Uncrewed Perpetual Flight Platform,” leverages Skydweller Aero’s Perpetual Flight® solar-powered aircraft. The platform combines high payload capacity with extreme endurance, enabling a reconfigurable airborne communication hub.
“Skydweller’s autonomous aircraft allows us to rethink how airborne networks are deployed,” said Robert Miller, CEO of Skydweller Aero. “For our customers, this means faster, more flexible connectivity that links manned and unmanned systems seamlessly — all while reducing operational costs and complexity compared with traditional solutions.”
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Download free sample pages More informationFor the demonstration, Skydweller will host Nokia’s 5G network. Scott Ferguson, Chief Revenue Officer, Nokia Federal Solutions, said, “Nokia’s 5G technology was built for dynamic, high-performance operations. Integrating it with Skydweller’s perpetual aircraft enables an entirely new class of airborne network capability that is continuous, flexible, and ready to connect forces faster than ever.”
Tangram Flex’s interoperability software will ensure compatibility with existing and emerging military systems. Caitlin Dohrman, CEO of Tangram Flex, said, “Our software enables the rapid integration of heterogeneous communication and mission systems, so they work together seamlessly, providing flexibility and scalability for a wide range of operations.”
The combined, modular solution will implement open standards, such as OMS and UCI, to demonstrate a software-defined airborne network capable of supporting high-value manned and unmanned platforms, as well as low-cost, attritable assets — essentially making Skydweller a central airborne hub for modern networked operations, including potential integration with the Air Force’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) initiatives.
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded this Direct to Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract, with a performance period from August 2025 to August 2027. Contract value was not disclosed.
