For the mission operator at the edge, the ability to receive real-time sensor feeds, update command centers, and maintain situational awareness isn't just a convenience; it is a life-saving necessity. However, staying connected in austere environments where cell towers don't exist or have been destroyed has historically been a massive technical challenge.
Curtiss-Wright has closed a major gap in tactical communications with the introduction of PacStar 424 tactical 5G router. This isn't just another router; it is a mission-critical bridge that brings high-speed, 5G-enabled wireless connectivity to the most remote corners of the globe.
At its core, PacStar 424 is a multi-network, ruggedized gateway and router designed for the Network-on-the-Move (NOTM) mission. Think of it as a high-powered, military-grade version of a mobile hotspot, but with significantly more intelligence and durability.
While the PacStar 400-Series has long been the gold standard for tactical modules, including computers, switches, and radio gateways, the missing piece in the ecosystem was a native, high-speed wireless transport. PacStar 424 fills that void. It repackages the Peplink MAX BR1 router into the proven, rugged PacStar form factor, allowing it to seamlessly snap into existing tactical kits.
It is important to understand how PacStar 424 functions:
- It is a 5G consumer. Much like your smartphone, it consumes a 5G signal. It can connect to public cellular towers when they are available.
- It is a private 5G interface. In combat zones, there are no public towers. PacStar 424 can connect to private 5G base stations deployed by military units, creating a secure, localized bubble of high-speed data.
- It is a Wi-Fi access point. Once it has a 5G or satellite connection, it broadcasts the latest Wi-Fi standard to nearby tablets, laptops, and sensors.
Making a True Mobile Battlefield a Reality
Before PacStar 424, teams in the field often had to fasten industrial or commercial devices to their kits to get wireless capabilities. These "Frankenstein" solutions were bulky, difficult to configure, and often failed in harsh environments.
This product represents an entirely new capability for the Curtiss-Wright ecosystem. There are several things PacStar 424 makes possible that simply weren't achievable before. First, it gives users independence from public infrastructure. For warfighters operating in denied, disrupted, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) environments, PacStar 424 natively supports 5G and Wi-Fi without requiring a single piece of civilian infrastructure. Whether the user is in a desert or a dense forest, they have high-speed internet they have a private cell station or a satellite link.
Second, it makes a true mobile battlefield a reality. Imagine a tactical ground vehicle patrolling a remote checkpoint. The vehicle itself would act as a hub, running its own private 5G network. As security personnel move around the vehicle, their handheld devices automatically link to the MRAP. If the unit needs to send video footage back to a central command thousands of miles away, PacStar 424 intelligently routes that data through a SATCOM link.
Third, and one of the most impressive technical innovations of PacStar 424, lies in tactical redundancy and multi-network bonding. It can combine multiple signals, such as 5G, SATCOM, and tactical IP radio, and bond them together. If one connection fails, the data flow continues uninterrupted over the others. This ensures that critical intelligence reaches the right people immediately, without the lag that characterizes older 4G or radio-only systems.
Focus on the Mission, Not the Network
For the end user, the benefits of PacStar 424 boil down to three things: speed, simplicity, and survivability.
- With 5G speeds at the edge, commanders aren't looking at pixelated images or waiting minutes for a map to load. They are seeing real-time telemetry and high-definition video feeds, which translates immediately into improved decision-making.
- Because the 5G gateway and Wi-Fi access point are built into the PacStar ecosystem, there is no need to carry extra bricks or cables. This reduces the kit’s weight and the complexity of the setup. It is truly plug-and-play.
- For existing Curtiss-Wright customers, PacStar 424 is a simple technology insertion, not a rip-and-replace. They don't have to overhaul their entire system to get 5G; they simply add the module to their current PacStar 400-Series stack.
Turn the Network Into an Operational Advantage
The applications for PacStar 424 are nearly limitless within the military and aerospace sectors:
- Command posts, where it serves as the primary or backup high-speed link for mobile operations centers.
- Unmanned systems, where it provides the high-bandwidth connection necessary for remote drone sensors and telemetry.
- Logistics and IoT, where it can track inventory and anything that needs connectivity, from a single backpack to an entire fleet of vehicles.
PacStar 424 turns the network into an operational advantage. While competitors are still offering older, slower 4G technology, Curtiss-Wright has moved the needle to 5G, ensuring that our forces have the fastest, most reliable tools available.
By integrating high-speed 5G, Wi-Fi, and SATCOM routing into a single, rugged module, Curtiss-Wright is ensuring that the warfighter is never alone, never out of touch, and always one step ahead of the adversary.
Learn more about the new PacStar 424 Tactical 5G Router
Subscribe Today!
Subscribe to our blog and receive a monthly email that keeps you up-to-date with the latest news and insights from Curtiss-Wright.
David Gregory
Chief Architect
David Gregory is the Chief Architect and a Technical Fellow in Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions with PacStar Communications Group - working closely with the industry partners to identify & develop new technologies and integrated solutions for immerging military use-cases. Mr. Gregory has extensive experience fielding tactical networking solutions, with a technical background in electrical engineering, computer engineering, network security, security systems, digital design, CSfC (Commercial Solutions for Classified), and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance).
