23 Feb 03. The Cormorant communications system, the core to the ARRC has had problems in fielding and its entry into service will be delayed until the end of 2003. Original fielding was expected in May of 2003. BATTLESPACE was briefed by the contractor Cogent who informed us that the central issue was the testing of the software and fielding of the management system. These could not be tested under the original field trials. Cogent assured BATTELSPACE that, although the contract, worth just under £100m, had been referred to the MoD’s Industry Appropriations Committee (IAC), the project was still supported by the DPA and the user. The first unit fielding the system will be 30 Signal Regiment.
Cogent assured BATTLESPACE that full details will be published after the IAC has reported. One detail has emerged is that a source told BATTLESPACE that the total bid costs for the system were a staggering £16m.