Persistent Systems Integrates Cloud Relay™ with Microsoft Azure to Enhance Global Tactical Networking

Persistent Systems has expanded its Cloud Relay™ capability by integrating it with Microsoft Azure Government cloud services. This move aims to provide U.S. and allied defense forces with a globally distributed tactical networking solution that supports Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) operations. The integration enables seamless communication between dismounted troops, vehicles, aircraft, and command centers through a secure hybrid mesh-cloud architecture.

Cloud Relay™: Bridging Tactical Edge and Global Cloud

Originally launched in 2021 as part of Persistent Systems’ Wave Relay® ecosystem, Cloud Relay™ serves as a bridge between mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) at the tactical edge and centralized cloud infrastructure. The system enables real-time data sharing across geographically dispersed units without relying on fixed infrastructure or traditional satellite communications alone.

By leveraging Wave Relay®-enabled devices such as the MPU5 radio and integrating them with cloud services like Microsoft Azure Government, Cloud Relay™ allows users to push situational awareness data—including video feeds from ISR platforms or sensor telemetry—into the cloud. From there, authorized users anywhere in the world can access this data via secure connections.

This architecture supports critical mission functions such as:

• Remote command and control of unmanned systems
• Real-time blue force tracking across theaters
• Sensor fusion from multiple platforms into a common operational picture
• Edge-to-cloud-to-edge data dissemination for resilient operations

Microsoft Azure Integration Enhances Scalability and Security

The latest expansion brings Cloud Relay™ into full compatibility with Microsoft’s Azure Government cloud—a FedRAMP High-authorized platform designed specifically for U.S. federal agencies and defense customers. This integration ensures compliance with stringent cybersecurity standards while enabling scalable compute resources for AI/ML processing, video analytics, or sensor data aggregation.

According to Persistent Systems CTO Louis Sutherland, the integration “enables warfighters at the tactical edge to connect globally via a secure hybrid mesh-cloud network.” This is particularly relevant for multi-domain operations where terrestrial connectivity may be limited or disrupted.

The use of Azure also allows Persistent’s government customers to deploy containerized applications within the cloud environment—enhancing modularity and reducing time-to-field for new capabilities. For example:

• A UAV operator in Europe can stream live ISR video directly into an Azure-hosted mission command app used by analysts in CONUS.
• Dismounted troops using MPU5 radios can receive updated mission plans pushed from HQ via the same mesh-cloud link.

Tactical Implications for JADC2 and Multi-Domain Operations

The U.S. Department of Defense’s JADC2 initiative seeks to connect sensors and shooters across all domains—land, air, sea, space, cyber—into an integrated kill web. Persistent’s hybrid mesh-cloud approach aligns closely with this vision by enabling resilient communications even in contested environments.

Unlike traditional hub-and-spoke architectures that rely heavily on SATCOM or fixed relays vulnerable to jamming or kinetic attack, MANETs offer decentralized resilience at the edge. When augmented by cloud reachback via Cloud Relay™, these networks gain global persistence without sacrificing mobility or security.

This capability is particularly valuable in scenarios such as:

• Special Operations Forces operating behind enemy lines needing reachback support
• Expeditionary units conducting rapid maneuver across dispersed terrain
• NATO joint exercises requiring interoperability among coalition partners’ C4ISR systems

Ecosystem Integration: MPU5 Radios and Beyond

Persistent’s flagship hardware platform—the MPU5—is central to enabling this capability. The handheld MANET radio combines dual MIMO transceivers (SISO/MIMO), integrated GPS/GNSS modules (with anti-spoofing support), onboard Android OS computing power, USB/Ethernet interfaces for peripheral integration (e.g., EO/IR sensors), and AES-256 encryption modules certified under FIPS 140-3 standards.

The MPU5 supports a range of frequency bands (L/S/C/UHF) depending on configuration and licensing requirements. Its modular software-defined architecture allows it to host third-party apps directly on-device—enabling edge computing functions such as AI-based object detection or local mapping without external processors.

When connected through Cloud Relay™, these radios become nodes in a globally accessible network fabric that can dynamically route traffic based on mission needs—whether that means streaming UAV imagery back to HQ or pushing logistics updates forward to field units.

Industry Context: Competing Approaches and Future Outlook

The move by Persistent Systems reflects broader trends in defense communications toward hybrid architectures combining edge autonomy with centralized coordination. Similar efforts are underway under programs such as the Army’s Project Convergence or Air Force ABMS (Advanced Battle Management System).

Competitors like Silvus Technologies offer similar MANET solutions but have yet to announce comparable commercial integrations with major cloud providers like Microsoft or AWS GovCloud. Meanwhile, companies like Anduril Industries are exploring vertically integrated approaches combining sensors + AI + comms stacks—but often focus more on proprietary ecosystems than open interoperability models favored by Persistent’s Wave Relay® platform.

The success of Persistent’s approach will likely hinge on continued adoption within DoD programs of record—as well as its ability to demonstrate interoperability during joint exercises like EDGE22/23 or NATO CWIX events where real-world performance under contested conditions is evaluated rigorously.

Conclusion: Toward Globally Connected Tactical Networks

The integration of Cloud Relay™ into Microsoft Azure marks a significant step toward achieving globally connected tactical networks that meet modern operational demands. By bridging mobile ad hoc networks at the edge with robust government-grade cloud infrastructure at scale, Persistent Systems offers a compelling solution aligned with JADC2 goals.

If adopted widely across services—and supported through rigorous testing under realistic conditions—this hybrid mesh-cloud model could redefine how future militaries conduct distributed operations across domains and continents alike.