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Defdex

Capability · Command, control and communications

Spectrum management

Allocating, licensing and deconflicting radio-frequency spectrum.

FieldedPart of Command, control and communications
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Assessment

Case for · why it matters

DoD says losing control of the electromagnetic spectrum risks losing control of the battlefield, and military, satellite and 5G demand all compete for the same bands. Shared-spectrum schemes such as CBRS have already let the Marine Corps use bands it otherwise would not have used, which suggests that faster coordination can free up capacity.

Case against · the skeptic’s view

GAO found DoD failed to implement its 2013 and 2017 spectrum strategies because of dispersed governance, missing senior leadership and slow acquisition. Those are institutional problems that coordination software alone does not fix, and spectrum allocation decisions stay political and regulatory.

Who builds it1

Spectrum management: organizations by maturity

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Placed by each organization's own maturity for this technology; TRL is self-reported or estimated, see confidence.

Breakdown2

Inputs it depends on1

Criticality is how much a shortage would constrain production; open an input for producers, concentration and trade controls.

News1

Open in the news feed →

Sources3

Profile2

  1. 1
    Government recordElectromagnetic Spectrum Operations: DOD Needs to Take Action to Help Ensure Superiority

    U.S. Government Accountability Office · Mar 19, 2021 · Supports Technology

    “The U.S. risks losing control of the battlefield if it doesn't control the electromagnetic spectrum, according to the Defense Department.”
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    NewsFederated demo with DoD highlights benefits of shared spectrum

    Fierce Network · Supports Technology

    “the spectrum normally wouldn't have been used by the U.S. Marine Corps if it weren't for the unique sharing paradigm implemented in the 3.5 GHz band”

Technologies1

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    OtherBlack Flag 100.2

    Black Flag · Supports Organization technology

    “Airbase modernizes radio-frequency spectrum licensing and coordination for government and commercial operators”

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