Network hybridisation: a new key to military superiority

• The company has also been recognised with a NATO Science and Technology Organisation (STO) Excellence Award.
• Additional mechanisms, such as dynamic identity management enabled by eSIM, further reduce the detectability of deployed systems.
• The operational relevance of hybrid communication architectures has been validated through multinational exercises,

The military communications domain is undergoing a structural transformation, driven by the rapid increase in connectivity requirements across the battlespace. Drones, sensors, vehicles, and dismounted troops now operate within a continuously connected environment, where data flows have become central to operational effectiveness.

In this context, superiority is no longer determined solely by kinetic capabilities, but by the ability to generate, transport and exploit large volumes of data. Traditional military communication systems — designed primarily for robustness and security — are increasingly constrained in terms of capacity. As a result, armed forces are moving towards hybrid architectures that combine sovereign defence networks with commercial telecommunications capabilities.

Data-centric operations and growing connectivity demands

The hyperconnectivity of the battlefield has placed data at the core of modern operations. ISR feeds, real-time video, and dynamic situational awareness tools all contribute to a shared operational picture that must be continuously updated and distributed.

This shift is further amplified by the integration of artificial intelligence, whose performance depends on the availability and quality of data inputs. Consequently, operational networks must meet increasingly demanding requirements in terms of bandwidth, latency, resilience, and agility, particularly in contested and degraded environments.

“Military networks are reaching their limits in terms of bandwidth when it comes to handling exponential data growth,” notes Alex Bottero, who heads Network and Infrastructure Systems activities at Thales. “The response lies in integrating commercial operator capabilities into defence systems, to increase capacity while maintaining resilience, security and operational simplicity.”

    “We have therefore adapted our solutions and innovations from commercial mobile networks to meet the specific constraints of military operations.”

Leveraging commercial telecom innovations on the battlefield

Operational feedback from Ukraine has shown that commercial networks — including 4G/5G infrastructure and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations — often remain accessible within proximity to the front line. These capabilities can therefore provide valuable redundancy and additional capacity when integrated into military communication frameworks. 

The objective is not to replace military networks, but to complement them through hybrid configurations, including deployable private 4G/5G bubbles. This requires the ability to switch dynamically between multiple communication layers.

    "According to the tactical context, our solutions allow seamless switching between commercial networks and privately deployed military networks, depending on needs such as bandwidth, discretion or resilience to jamming."

    Alex Bottero - Vice President of Network and Infrastructure Systems activities at Thales

eSIM technology is a key enabler of this transformation. Virtualising SIM functionality, it allows remote provisioning and dynamic reconfiguration of connectivity profiles across large fleets of devices. “Managing physical SIM cards represents a significant logistical burden for armed forces,” says Eva Rudin. “With our Drakon Instant Connect solution, operator profiles can be downloaded instantly, without any physical intervention.”

This capability enables rapid deployment and adaptation of communication assets in theatre, significantly reducing operational constraints. “This is where we bring a genuine operational advantage: making 4G and 5G viable at the tactical level,” Bottero adds. Looking ahead, eSIM is also expected to play a role in non-terrestrial 5G (NTN), particularly within emerging LEO satellite programmes such as IRIS². 

Discretion and operational security

Beyond capacity, commercial networks also offer an operational advantage in terms of signature management. “On public networks, our technologies make it difficult to distinguish a soldier from a civilian. In urban environments, this allows forces to blend into the background,” explains Eva Rudin.

Recent operations have already illustrated this approach. “Ukrainian long-range drone strikes, conducted far from the front line, relied in part on commercial connectivity infrastructures,” recalls Alex Bottero. 

Security remains a critical consideration. Hybrid architectures rely on end-to-end encryption and data-centric security models to ensure that sensitive information remains protected, regardless of the underlying transport network. “Commercial networks are used as transmission layers — security is applied beforehand,” Bottero notes.

Additional mechanisms, such as dynamic identity management enabled by eSIM, further reduce the detectability of deployed systems.

    “Thanks to eSIM and a patented Thales solution, identifiers can be changed at any time, reducing the risk of detection in operational environments.”

    Eva Rudin

This approach helps counter adversary surveillance systems. It is complemented by fine-grained access control through Data Centric Security (DCS) certificates: “We can decide who has access to what, and when.” This marks a shift towards security centred on data itself, rather than solely on infrastructure. 

NATO validation and interoperability frameworks

The operational relevance of hybrid communication architectures has been validated through multinational exercises, including NATO’s Digital Backbone Exercise (DiBaX) in Riga, Latvia. During these trials, Thales demonstrated its ability to integrate heterogeneous communication layers — including IP networks, tactical radios, and mobile connectivity — while supporting autonomous systems such as drones and sensors within a unified architecture.

The company has also been recognised with a NATO Science and Technology Organisation (STO) Excellence Award for its work on 5G integration, now embedded within Alliance standards.

These developments contribute to broader NATO initiatives, such as Federated Mission Networking (FMN), aimed at ensuring interoperability between allied forces and systems.