14 Nov 03. EDO Corporation (NYSE: EDO) has been awarded an initial £2.3m (approx. $3.8m) contract to supply rugged computer devices to the UK’s BOWMAN communications system. The contract was awarded by General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd., the prime contractor for the BOWMAN system, to EDO’s MBM Technology Ltd unit in Brighton.
Under the contract, two types of device will be supplied. The first, and higher volume requirement, is for an Access Control Device (ACD) that will allow authorized users to access the BOWMAN User Data Terminal (UDT) computers. The second is an External Memory Device (EMD) which allows data to be stored and transferred between computers.
“Sales of our extremely rugged portable computers and related devices are growing rapidly,” said James M. Smith, EDO’s chief executive officer. “We are delighted to have now gained an entry into the BOWMAN program, and will continue to seek ways in which we can offer products to support the UK’s digitization efforts.”
EDO MBM Technology’s product line includes the recently developed Termite LT465 Fire Control Computer that is being supplied for the UK’s Fire Control – Battlefield Information Systems Application program. The Termite will be used as a reversionary mode for the FC BISA targeting system which will be one of the first BISAs to run on the BOWMAN tactical communications infrastructure. The Termite is the result of significant investment by the company over the past two years. It has been designed to balance exceptional performance with user friendliness and the rugged protection to withstand rough treatment on the battlefield. It has passed the highest (Land Class A) standards for resistance to electro-magnetic interference and low signal emission, allowing it to perform safely alongside other electronic systems. It is the only UK-designed and developed rugged, handheld computer.