GENERAL DYNAMICS FIELDS LATEST BOWMAN UPGRADE
Feb 08. General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited has begun rolling out enhanced communications and data capabilities for the Bowman tactical communications system. The Ministry of Defence has formally accepted the latest increment of Bowman, BCIP5, which stands for Bowman and ComBAT, Infrastructure and Platform BISA (CIP).
Bowman is used by all three of the armed services, and BCIP4 is already providing battle-winning capability on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, by improving the speed, quality and security of tactical communications and enhancing situational awareness. General Dynamics UK has already integrated the Bowman system into more than 12,000 British Army vehicles, from Challenger tanks to Land Rovers, enhancing the communications abilities of soldiers on foot, ships, helicopters, and operational headquarters.
BCIP5 will:
* Deliver an enhanced robust, resilient and mobile tactical internet with improved situational awareness for commanders at all levels.
* Increase use of data-networking, in conjunction with new Battlespace Management tools, enhancing the information flow between units and headquarters staff.
* Enable each Bowman radio fitted with a GPS to send its Own Station Position Report (OSPR), to produce a picture of where friendly forces are in the battlespace, improving situational awareness.
Following a successful Operational Field Trial and formal acceptance meetings with the UK Ministry of Defence, the roll-out of BCIP5 has begun with the uplift of the Royal Navy’s Type 22 frigate HMS Chatham and Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth.
A three-year roll-out will enable the armed services to train soldiers and update practices to get the best use of BCIP5 and absorb the new capability, while continuing to deliver operational commitments.
Speaking for the Ministry of Defence, Commodore Jay Hart, Bowman And Tactical Communications & Information Systems (BATCIS) Integrated Project Team Leader, said: “Bowman is already proving its worth on operations, and we are very pleased that BCIP5 has achieved acceptance. When it is rolled out the new Bowman increment will help our armed forces improve the way they share information and work together on operations.”
Dr Sandy Wilson, President and Managing Director of General Dynamics UK, said: “Since we took on Bowman in 2001 we have delivered significant and vital capability to the soldiers on the ground. We are pleased that BCIP5 has been given the thumbs-up, and we will continue working closely in partnership with the MoD to roll it out to our armed forces over the next three years.”