RTX BBN Technologies has been selected to head a multi-partner initiative designed to enable 5G networks and critical military radar systems to operate within the same frequency bands without causing interference.
The effort, known as the Advanced Spectrum Coexistence Demonstration, is backed by the United States Department of Defense and the National Spectrum Consortium. Its objective is to replace slow, manual spectrum coordination processes with automated, real-time systems that can quickly identify and resolve conflicts between commercial telecom networks and defense radar operations.
Existing spectrum-sharing mechanisms can take several minutes to mitigate interference, creating vulnerabilities for both civilian 5G users and radar operators. During the program’s initial phase, the BBN-led consortium will develop an intelligent “spectrum manager” capable of forecasting radar activity and redirecting 5G traffic within seconds to prevent disruptions.
In later stages, the system will evolve into a fully autonomous platform that adheres to predefined policies to optimize spectrum usage with minimal human intervention. The integrated solution aims to increase available 5G capacity by 50 percent, cut radar interference by 20 decibels, and enhance 5G connection quality by up to 1,000 times when both systems operate simultaneously.
Testing and development activities will be conducted in Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, and Indiana.
To execute the program, BBN is working alongside a broad network of industry and academic collaborators. Raytheon Advanced Technology will provide live radar signals and validation tools. Ericsson Federal Technologies Group will contribute 5G expertise. Signal Processing Technologies and Novowi will deliver advanced interference detection and machine learning-based sensing solutions. Federated Wireless will oversee dynamic spectrum allocation, while Purdue University will develop machine learning models to accelerate interference prediction.
This initiative forms part of a broader DoD strategy to expand commercial spectrum use without undermining national security. In October 2025, InterDigital received a contract to advance mid-band dynamic spectrum sharing for both civilian and defense applications. Earlier, DARPA’s 2024 Spectrum Collaboration Challenge demonstrated that AI-driven spectrum management could significantly reduce congestion and improve reliability across shared frequency bands.
