Kongsberg Discovery’s Maritime Broadband Radio (MBR) system has received certification from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), marking a significant milestone in secure maritime communications technology. The certification enables deployment of the Norwegian-developed system across U.S. and allied naval and joint forces, enhancing real-time situational awareness and command-and-control (C2) resilience in contested environments.
MBR System Overview: High-Capacity Tactical Networking at Sea
The Maritime Broadband Radio (MBR) is a software-defined radio (SDR)-based communication system developed by Kongsberg Discovery—a division of Norway’s Kongsberg Gruppen—designed to provide high-capacity IP-based data links between mobile platforms at sea and ashore. Operating primarily in the 5 GHz band with adaptive modulation and mesh networking capabilities, the MBR offers encrypted broadband connectivity over line-of-sight distances up to 50 kilometers.
Unlike traditional maritime comms systems that rely on satellite or narrowband VHF/UHF links, the MBR provides gigabit-class throughput using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components hardened for military use. It supports full-motion video (FMV), sensor feeds, blue force tracking (BFT), and C2 data exchange between ships, unmanned surface vessels (USVs), helicopters, landing craft, and coastal command nodes.
- Frequency Band: Typically operates in the 4.9–5.9 GHz range
- Range: Up to ~50 km line-of-sight; extendable via relay nodes
- Throughput: Up to several hundred Mbps per link
- Encryption: AES-256 with NATO-approved crypto modules
- Network Topology: Self-forming/self-healing mesh
DoD Certification: Implications for Interoperability and Deployment
The recent U.S. DoD certification confirms that the MBR meets stringent cybersecurity and interoperability standards required for integration into U.S. tactical networks. This includes compliance with Risk Management Framework (RMF) protocols under DoDI 8500-series guidance as well as compatibility with Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concepts.
The certification was issued by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) after extensive testing under operational conditions involving multiple platforms and simulated adversarial environments. According to Kongsberg Discovery representatives at Sea-Air-Space 2024 in Maryland, this approval opens pathways for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and direct procurement by U.S.-based integrators supporting Navy Expeditionary Warfare Command (NECC), Marine Corps littoral units, SOCOM maritime elements, and others.
This also aligns with NATO’s Federated Mission Networking (FMN) goals—improving coalition interoperability through standardized C4ISR architectures.
Tactical Use Cases Across Naval and Joint Domains
The flexibility of MBR allows it to serve a wide range of use cases beyond blue-water navy applications:
- Littoral Operations: High-speed comms between amphibious assault ships, LCACs/LCUs, landing forces ashore
- MCM & ISR Missions: Real-time control/data exfil from USVs/UUVs conducting mine countermeasures or surveillance
- SOCOM/Expeditionary Units: Low-profile high-bandwidth comms during coastal raids or reconnaissance missions
- NATO Exercises: Plug-and-play interoperability during multinational exercises like BALTOPS or Trident Juncture
Kongsberg has previously demonstrated MBR performance during trials with Royal Norwegian Navy corvettes and patrol vessels operating in Arctic conditions where satellite links are unreliable due to polar coverage gaps or jamming threats.
Kongsberg’s Strategic Positioning in Naval C4I Markets
This development reinforces Kongsberg’s growing footprint in naval command-and-control infrastructure globally. Beyond MBR, Kongsberg is also known for its combat management systems such as “PROTECTOR” RWS integration suites used on both land vehicles and naval platforms; its Naval Strike Missile (NSM); as well as sonar systems under its Kongsberg Maritime division.
The company has increasingly positioned itself as a dual-use technology provider capable of bridging commercial innovation with defense-grade ruggedization—a key requirement under emerging NATO procurement doctrines emphasizing modularity and digital backbone architectures.
The certified status of MBR may also influence upcoming programs including the U.S. Navy’s Distributed Maritime Operations concept or Marine Corps Force Design 2030 initiatives focused on expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO).
Future Outlook: Integration into Multi-Domain Battle Networks
The next steps likely involve integration testing aboard selected U.S. Navy vessels or Marine Littoral Regiments under real-world operational scenarios—potentially alongside Link-16 gateways or SATCOM alternatives like TACSAT or MUOS when beyond-line-of-sight is needed.
Kongsberg has indicated ongoing collaboration with prime contractors such as General Dynamics Mission Systems and L3Harris to explore hybrid network architectures combining terrestrial mesh radios like MBR with airborne relay drones or tethered aerostats for persistent coverage over denied areas.
If adopted at scale within JADC2 frameworks—or NATO equivalents—the MBR could serve as a resilient layer within contested spectrum environments where GPS denial or SATCOM disruption is anticipated.
