Why edge connectivity matters
In defense and military applications, IoT and edge connectivity take on a life-or-death importance. Modern defense systems deploy a myriad of sensors and autonomous platforms – from surveillance cameras and radar to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robotics – that must all tie into a secure, resilient network. The concept of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) in the U.S. military, for example, envisions every soldier, vehicle, ship, and drone as a node on a massive, interconnected network, sharing data in real time. This can only be achieved with robust connectivity that extends to the tactical edge (battlefield environments, forward operating bases, etc.) and can withstand harsh conditions.
A networked battlefield: Anduril’s Lattice and Menace-T
Defense tech companies like Anduril Industries have been pioneers in creating the networked “battlefield of the future.” Anduril’s flagship platform, Lattice, is essentially an AI-enabled IoT network that integrates all sorts of defense sensors and systems. It connects surveillance towers, drones, ground sensors, and even weapons into a unified “common operating picture” for commanders. To do this in remote or hostile areas, Anduril has developed its own mesh networking capabilities and field-deployable edge hardware. In May 2025, Anduril announced Menace-T, a portable edge data center and communications hub for off-grid deployments. Menace-T packs compute servers, network routers, and satellite/cellular backhaul into two rugged cases that a single operator can carry. It “brings edge computing and communications to off-grid and/or inhospitable environments,” according to Anduril, and is already used in military ground vehicles and ships. Essentially, it’s a drop-in edge connectivity solution: bring your network and processing with you, wherever troops go.
Edge analytics when disconnected: Palantir at the front
Such systems highlight the military’s recognition that without reliable links, all the advanced IoT sensors in the field are far less useful. A soldier with augmented reality goggles, for instance, needs a local compute hub (like Menace-T) to analyze sensor feeds and send back situational data without waiting on a distant cloud – especially if internet access is cut or jamming is occurring. Another company, Palantir, has also focused on enabling analytics in “disconnected” forward environments as part of its military offerings. Palantir’s software, used by U.S. and allied defense, must integrate data from many edge sources – sometimes with limited connectivity. By partnering with chipmakers like Qualcomm, Palantir is working to push AI algorithms onto rugged edge devices that can operate on local data when links are down. As Qualcomm’s IoT head Nakul Duggal noted, “advancing AI capabilities at the edge” and enabling seamless portability of logic from cloud to edge means defense users can have “Palantir-grade” insights on frontline devices without always relying on central networks. This approach recognizes that in combat scenarios, connectivity will be intermittent or contested, so the network must be flexible and decentralized, with fiber-like secure links when possible and autonomous local operation when not.
Why fiber matters in Defense IoT Environments
Secure, ruggedized fiber optic systems play a unique role in military IoT. Fiber is immune to electromagnetic jamming and intercept, which are major concerns in conflict. Thus, wherever practical, the military uses fiber lines to connect radar sites, command posts, and other critical nodes. For mobile and temporary deployments, there are now tactical fiber cable systems that troops can rapidly lay out.
Such military-grade fiber solutions can connect communications tents, radar trailers, and other assets with Gigabit links that are far more reliable and secure than any wireless method. They have been used in everything from NATO exercises to outdoor public events (as temporary networks). Clearfield also provides ruggedized connection closures that interface these portable cables with fixed fiber networks. This means an army unit could tie into a local city’s fiber loop for extra bandwidth or conversely, extend their own network into an area lacking infrastructure, by splicing in via weatherproof fiber hubs.
“Tower in the sky”: Tethered drones over fiber
One especially novel use case in defense is deploying tethered drones via fiber-optic cables. We touched on tethered drones in the rail context; in military use they are often employed for persistent aerial surveillance or communications relay. A drone on a power-and-fiber tether can stay aloft for hours or days at a time, acting like a temporary “tower in the sky.” The fiber in the tether provides a high-capacity, jam-proof data pipe for live HD video feeds and control commands. W. L. Gore & Associates and others produce hybrid tether cables specifically for this purpose, combining power conductors with optical fiber in a lightweight jacket. These tethers have to be extremely robust – resisting weather, tension, and possibly bullets – but still thin enough for a drone to lift. Advances in materials (Kevlar strength members, etc.) have made it feasible. For example, one supplier notes that using a fiber data link in a drone tether avoids the susceptibility to interference and hacking that radio links have. Anduril and similar defense companies integrate tethered drone capabilities into their systems for defending fixed sites like military bases or forward-operating positions. The drones feed their video into the local Lattice network (often through a FiberFlex-style field cabinet that houses the tether reel and network switches), giving soldiers immediate aerial situational awareness. It’s a perfect illustration of how edge connectivity solutions in defense must be innovative and extraordinarily reliable under stress.
Humanitarian operations: why secure connectivity saves lives
In active conflict zones, aid groups depend on communications to do the most basic, life- saving work: confirm which clinics and shelters are still operating, route convoys around emerging hazards, maintain deconfliction lists, preserve patient privacy, and keep cold chain sensors and water-quality monitors online. Unprotected or jammed radio links can expose locations or be spoofed, which can turn coordination into a liability. A resilient, layered network approach helps and needs fiber where it’s practical, along with rugged edge enclosures with local compute to ensure services keep running during outages; along with encrypted backhaul over satellite/LTE with mesh failover.
Network segmentations lets NGOs share on what is necessary across partners while isolating sensitive data, and simple, plug-and-play hardware shortens deployment time with mixed teams. The aim isn’t to “militarize” aid – it is to give civilian responders dependable, secure connectivity that lowers risk for staff and the communities they serve.
Ruggedized edge cabinets for harsh environments
Finally, consider the demanding environmental conditions military network gear faces; desert heat, arctic cold, vibration, and even explosions. Connectivity hardware must be “mil-spec” rugged. Clearfield’s active cabinets have seen interest in defense projects for this reason. These are outdoor-rated enclosures designed to house fiber management, power, and active networking equipment in one, integrated unit. They’re tested to GR-487 standards (resisting extreme temperature, dust, rain, etc.) and can be deployed at remote sites for “fiber to anywhere” connectivity. By separating the fiber splicing compartment from the active electronics compartment, active cabinets ensure that sensitive optical fibers are protected from any disturbances caused by equipment maintenance or power systems. The FiberFlex Convergent series, for example, is a multi-bay cabinet that allows providers (or military engineers) to “position more active equipment closer to the network edge,” effectively bringing data center capabilities to field locations. These cabinets integrate high-capacity fiber patch panels (supporting hundreds of fiber ports) along with space for switches/routers, power units, and backup batteries. In a military context, one could deploy a FiberFlex Convergent cabinet at a base perimeter or command post to serve as a hardened communications node: fiber in the ground connects into it, and inside it houses edge compute devices (maybe running Palantir or Lattice), radio gear for a local 5G/Wi-Fi bubble, and power backup to keep it all running. Clearfield also offers military-grade fiber cables and connectors that complement such deployments – such as in field-deployable cable reels and IP-rated connectors mentioned earlier, which ensure that even temporary fiber links meet military specs for ruggedness.