Improvements to Bowman communications system
6 Jul 09
Two contracts, together worth £231m, have been awarded by the Ministry of Defence to General Dynamics UK to upgrade the UK Armed Forces' Bowman military communications system.
Soldier equipped with a Bowman personal role radio
[Picture: Mike Weston, Crown Copyright/MOD 2005]
The contracts will provide improved performance and sustainability through proactive obsolescence management; increased quantities of equipment to meet user needs; optimisation of Bowman system performance through improvements to planning and system management applications; improved interoperability with other UK and allied systems; and improved synergies with Bowman CIP support solution.
The first contract, known as Capability Release 1.5, is worth £119m and will update and refresh the system's capabilities over its lifetime to reflect advances in technology. The second contract, valued at £112m, will provide longer term technical support for the Bowman programme and will include repair, field services and the provision of spares.
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:
"Bowman has been used successfully in Iraq and Afghanistan, where secure, faster communications and data exchange is saving lives on the front line. It is a key element of a comprehensive suite of communications systems to provide a robust network that allows commanders to exercise command and control effectively.
"These contracts are testament to our work with industry which allows us to rapidly adapt to technological advances and the evolving operational demands of our front line troops."
The work will help sustain several hundred jobs at the General Dynamics' Oakdale site in South Wales.
Bowman's secure radio communications, declared in service on time in 2004, have been used on operations since 2005, together with a basic data capability.
"These contracts are testament to our work with industry which allows us to rapidly adapt to technological advances and the evolving operational demands of our front line troops."
Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support
The Bowman system has been developed and integrated by General Dynamics UK into over 13,000 British Army vehicles, together with headquarters, ships, and helicopters. The MOD recently purchased an additional 2,139 radios, with an option for a further 437, in order to meet the demands of current operations and their associated training needs.
Dr Sandy Wilson, President and Managing Director of General Dynamics UK, said:
"Bowman has allowed General Dynamics UK to grow a valuable engineering capability in communications and vehicle integration. That capability is a good example of the industrial benefit to the UK that comes from the close partnership between MOD and General Dynamics UK, working together on the future of Bowman and vehicle electronic architectures."