Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition is Now Available, Providing Complete Solutions for DoD Operators and the Federal Government

Channel and solution partners deliver complementary software and services that can customize the device for a range of tactical environments.

Samsung Electronics America announced today that the Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition (TE) is now available through select channel partners, including PAR Government, Viasat, Black Diamond Advanced Technology (BDATech) and goTenna. Designed to address the unique needs of operators in Department of Defense (DoD) and throughout the federal government, the Galaxy S20 TE couples a proven hardware platform with an open and secure Android operating system to enable a broad range of tactical partners.

It is the ideal lightweight end user device for running battlefield applications including Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK), Android Precision Assault Strike Suite (APASS), Kinetic Integrated Low-Cost Software Integrated Tactical Handheld (KILSWITCH) and Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Observation Kit (BATDOK™)¹, while seamlessly and securely integrating with tactical radios and peripherals including laser range finders, drone feeds and external GPS.

“Today’s operators need to make real-time decisions while processing an enormous amount of information across a variety of tactical environments,” said Chris Balcik, VP of Sales, Federal Government, Samsung Electronics America. “We worked diligently with the industry’s most trusted companies to ensure best-in-class software, services and hardware solutions perform with our devices. The Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition delivers; it is an intelligent, lightweight and secure mobile device that integrates into advanced systems and enables operators to complete their missions—regardless of location.”

The Galaxy S20 TE features a comprehensive ecosystem of partners including mobile situational awareness, virtual health, robotics control technology and networking solutions.

Situational Awareness

As a leading developer of ATAK, PAR Government delivers mobile Situational Awareness (SA) solutions for government agencies. The company’s SA software applications are provisioned and integrated on the Galaxy S20 TE. These SA solutions provide real-time access to geospatial data, accelerate multimedia sharing, and improve team collaboration and integration with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

“PAR is proud to be in partnership with Samsung Electronics America for the Galaxy S20 TE device offering,” said Ed Bohling, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for PAR Government. “The PAR developed TE-Enabler application suite integrated with the S20 TE solution will allow customers to seamlessly interoperate with tactical peripheral devices through their Situational Awareness App of choice.”

Health Monitoring

Remote Health Solutions, a provider of military health solutions including the BATDOKTM software solution, integrates the company’s Virtual Exam Room for secure telemedicine capability and back-end cloud platform. Using the Galaxy S20 TE combined with BATDOKTM, medics can wirelessly monitor patients’ vitals at point of injury and capture complete treatment from this point through a medical evacuation and next stage of care.

“The Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition is the perfect device for the modern medic-warrior, combining the right security with the right functionality to meet the demands of today’s military medics,” says Sean Sullivan, Director of Business Development, Remote Healthcare Solutions.  “By adding the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Observation Kit (BATDOKTM) software solution to the S20 TE further enhances a medic’s effectiveness in the field and helps streamline a wounded operator’s care- from the battlefield to the hospital.”

Robotics and Unmanned System Control

To realize the full potential of the military’s use of tactical robotic systems, it is imperative that operators control robotic platforms from an intuitive, affordable, highly-portable ground control station. Samsung’s Galaxy S20 TE combined with Tomahawk Robotics’ Kinesis universal command and control software provides this capability for the DOD’s major robotics programs of record.

“We are extremely pleased to partner with Samsung,” said Brad Truesdell, CEO, Tomahawk Robotics. “Samsung and Tomahawk Robotics combined offering is extremely well positioned as a low SWAP, low-cost solution for robotic command and control, that brings immediate interoperability with a number of major military robotic PORs.”

The Galaxy S20 TE provides additional flexibility through Samsung DeX & DeX in-vehicle allowing a user to move quickly from conducting robotic mission planning at a forward operating base (FOB) to mounted operations and ultimately dismounted operations leveraging robotic systems.

Persistent Communications

The Galaxy S20 TE also supports multiple carrier networks and the use of private 5G SIMs, Wi-Fi 6 and CBRS². Leveraging Oceus Networks, private 5G/4G LTE high bandwidth networks, Galaxy S20 TE users can access Oceus Networks’ Secure Mobile Device Platform (SMP). Consisting of a suite of applications that enables the capture of environmental metrics, and collection of sensor data with storage and upload for centralized management with no action required by the end user. The platform is also capable of enabling DoD specific security requirements including encrypted dual-tunnel VPN communication and includes Data-In-Transit and Data-At-Rest protection.

When cell, Wi-Fi, and satellite networks are unavailable, goTenna’s mesh networking technology enables fully off-grid mobile application connectivity. Today, they released a new tactical-grade Tether Cable Kit for their goTenna Pro product suite, which securely pairs goTenna Pro and Pro X radio devices to IMPCT Galaxy cases from Juggernaut.

“We’re excited to reinvent what’s possible at the tactical communications edge with Samsung,” says Daniela Perdomo, Co-Founder and CEO, goTenna. “Together, mesh-enabled radios, mobile devices, and apps ensure mission critical operations are never hindered by a loss in cell, WiFi, or satellite connectivity.”

Tech-enabled operators on base can also manage an entire fleet of mobile devices thanks to secure mobile management platforms like Viasat’s Mobile Dynamic Defense (MDD) solution. The solution provides advanced cyber protection, works in environments with limited and no network connectivity and has the flexibility to adjust to mission needs at a moment’s notice. By integrating Viasat MDD software into existing device ecosystems, warfighters at the tactical edge can improve situational awareness and maintain mission effectiveness.

Ken Peterman, President, Government Systems at Viasat commented, “By embedding Viasat’s MDD cybersecurity platform into the Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition we are ensuring today’s military personnel, government leaders, and high profile business executives are securely connected and ‘mission-ready.’ Our integrated mobile cyber-defense solution enables missions to be completed without the fear of jeopardizing confidential military or government policy, proprietary information or device integrity. Viasat MDD is a critical capability proven to protect device users—whether remote, local or connected to a live network—by allowing them to provision and configure their device as their mission changes.”

Additional partners with solutions that integrate with the Galaxy S20 TE include cabling and hub providers Black Diamond Advanced Technology (BDATech) and Glenair, as well as ruggedized military grade cases and mounts by Kagwerks and Juggernaut Case.

Availability

GalaxyS20 TE is only available in the U.S. through PAR Government, Viasat, Black Diamond Advanced Technology (BDATech) and goTenna. For more information on Galaxy S20 TE, please visit www.samsung.com/TacticalEdition. For more information about Samsung Government, please visit www.samsung.com/us/business/by-industry/government/.

1 BATDOK is a trademark of the United States Air Force.

2 Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. Check with carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors.