Persistent Systems, LLC, a leader in Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) technology, has confirmed that the UK Royal Marines have fully fielded more than 2,000 MPU5 radio systems as part of the UK Commando Force (UKCF) transformation.
This marks a significant step in the Royal Marines’ move toward a more agile, technology-enabled expeditionary force. The rollout represents a new phase of large-scale operational deployment and collaboration with allied forces, as the Royal Marines adopt networking technologies to enhance battlefield connectivity.
MPU5 radios, running the Wave Relay® MANET, now form a highly scalable communications fabric uniting warfighters, unmanned systems, sensors, vehicles, and command posts. This resilient network enables the Royal Marines to operate with greater autonomy, speed, and lethality in contested electronic warfare (EW) environments, ensuring constant connectivity across land, sea, and littoral domains.
The Royal Marines are divesting from legacy government-only systems and embracing commercial, non-ITAR defense technology. This makes their force more interoperable with allies and places the UK at the forefront of multinational collaboration.
Eve Shapiro, Senior Director of Sales and Business Development at Persistent, stated, “True interoperability is about more than just working with allies. It’s about uniting every Marine, every vehicle, and every sensor into a single resilient network. With the Wave Relay MANET, the Royal Marines can execute complex, distributed operations while maintaining constant connectivity and situational awareness.”
The UKCF represents the most significant modernization of the Royal Marines since WWII, aimed at creating a globally deployable, autonomous littoral force. It emphasizes small, lethal teams, unmanned and AI-enabled systems, and networked C4ISR capabilities.
The MPU5 rollout, awarded to Persistent’s UK partner and distributor Steatite Ltd., includes handheld units and vehicle kits to support UKCF’s operational demands across all domains. Integration with platforms such as all-terrain vehicles and unmanned systems ensures uninterrupted communications regardless of terrain or mission set.
